The largest cult on earth has over 25 million followers, the 4th largest army in the world, and a nuclear arsenal. It also has bowling alleys and karaoke bars, and regularly hosts international marathons. Under three generations of iron-fisted dictators, the so-called Hermit Nation disconnected from the rest of the world, but with the rise of western-educated Kim Jong-un, North Korea is rapidly modernizing. Is the country bracing for change? What is life like in an isolated, rogue state? And is there any point in negotiating with a hostile, nuclear-armed enemy? Join Shane and Duncan for a nuanced exploration of the most feared and vilified country on earth. ~ Join the MFFI community and vote on episode topics via DISCORD ~ In this episode:  The First Sino-Japanese War The Military Police Reign Era Kim Il-sung, the Tiger Kim Joins the Soviet Army World War II and Pearl Harbor Establishment of the Democratic People's Republic of North Korea The Korean War, 1950 Armistice, 1953 Syngman Rhee and South Korea Juche Kim-Il-sung's Cult of Personality Kim and the Titanic The Rise of Kim Jong-il Cult of Kim Jong-il Mount Paektu Collapse of the Soviet Union North Korean Famine The Rise of Kim Jong-un Purging of Enemies The Execution of Jang Song-thaek The Murder of Kim Jong-nam North Korean Economy The Black Market The Drug Trade Counterfeiting Cyberwarfare Reforms  Sanctions Nuclear Capabilities Life in North Korea Life in Pyongyang The DMZ (the 38th Parallel) North Korean Myth Busting ~ 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   ~ KNOWLEDGE IS POWER, AND SLEEP IS OVERRATED ~      

From paper dresses to giant metal erections, MFFI explores some of the weirdest historical fashion trends.  ~ Join the MFFI community and vote on episode topics via DISCORD ~ In this episode:  Hobble skirts Paper clothing Powdered wigs Codpieces Foot Binding Tudor Ruffs Crakowes Sabatons/Poulaines ~ 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   ~ KNOWLEDGE IS POWER, AND SLEEP IS OVERRATED ~      

Only a sucker would believe that P.T. Barnum said, "There's a sucker born every minute." In the latest episode of MFFI, the boys once again undermine their own faith in humanity by exposing the inventors, scientists, authors, and orators who deserve none of the credit they've been given.  ~ Join the MFFI community and vote on episode topics via DISCORD ~ In this episode:  Stigler's Law of Eponymy  Mark Twain and Helen Keller Halley's Comet The Pythagorean Theorum Hubble's Law (Edwin Hubble) Alexander Friedmann Georges Lemaitre and the Hubble Constant Hubble and the Nobel Prize Fermi Paradox Redux The Invention of the Automobile Henry Ford, William Klann, and the Assembly Line Gottlieb Daimler and Carl Benz Siegfried Marcus The Reich Ministry of Public Enlightenment and Propaganda Carriages The Telephone Alexander Graham Bell vs. Elisha Gray Johan Philip Reis and the Singing Station Antonio Meucci and the Teletrophono Mark Twain Misattribution Albert Einstein Misattribution QAnon Misattribution (White Squall) Marie Antoinette Misattribution PT Barnum Misattribution Marilyn Monroe Misattribution  ~ 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   ~ KNOWLEDGE IS POWER, AND SLEEP IS OVERRATED ~  

Is it reasonable to believe that ghosts actually exist? From a scientific standpoint, are there any credible explanations for ghost sightings? In the latest MFFI host-swap episode, Duncan debunks his own sketchy theories and then regales Shane with some of the world's earliest ghost stories.  ~ Join the MFFI community and vote on episode topics via DISCORD ~ In this episode:  SQUID (Superconducting Quantum Interference Device) Franz Mesmer Animal Magnetism Electromagnetic Fields David Cohen and Heart Magnetism Ghost Tale from Ancient Egypt Ghost Tale from China (Mo-Tzu, Emperor Hsuan and Tu-Po) Ghost Tale from Pliny the Younger Ghost Tale from Plutarch (Damon and the Bath House) ~ 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 ~ Shane's Comedy Schedule and Info ~ Podcast Website   ~ KNOWLEDGE IS POWER, AND SLEEP IS OVERRATED ~  

The boys take a break from espionage to explore bitcoin, the blockchain, and all things cryptocurrency. What even IS a Bitcoin, and how does it work? Is cryptocurrency a solid investment? Is Bitcoin really anonymous? And who the heck is Satoshi Nakomoto?  ~ Join the MFFI community and vote on episode topics via DISCORD ~ In this episode:  History of Currency Commodity Currency Representative Currency Fiat Currency The Silver Standard The Gold Standard Fort Knox Inflation Satoshi Nakamoto The White Paper The Genesis Block Laszlo Hanyecz and the Pizza Catastrophe Bitcoin Mining and the Blockchain Explained 51% Attacks Proof of Work Dongles and Bitcoin Wallets 21 Million Max Transaction Fees Pseudonymity   The FDIC Mt. Gox Fungibility and NFTs The Electronic Elephant in the Room  ~ 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 ~ Shane's Comedy Schedule and Info ~ Podcast Website ~ Episode Transcript   ~ KNOWLEDGE IS POWER, AND SLEEP IS OVERRATED ~  

In the second installment of MFFI's espionage series, the boys investigate spying technology, from cryptography to microdots to The Thing.  ~ Join the MFFI community and vote on episode topics via DISCORD ~ In this episode:  Dead Drops Live Drops Traps Steganography Scalp Tattoos Mask Letters Invisible Ink (the Sympathetic Stain) Cryptography and Cryptology Substitution Cypher Frequency Distribution Scytales The Two Pillars of Classic Espionage: Cameras and Radio Subminiature Cameras and the Minox Microdots Pigeon Cams Heinrich Hertz and the Spark Gap Transmitter Lee De Forest and the Vacuum tube Amplitude Modulation (AM) Practical Frequency Modulation (FM) Bugs (Covert Listening Devices) The Thing (The Great American Seal Bug), and RFID Leon Theremin and Averell Harriman Numbers Stations Redux and One-Time Pads The Insectothopter Dog-poop Transmitter Lipstick Pistols Rectal Toolkit Shoe Phone (Heel-Transmitter) ~ 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 ~ Shane's Comedy Schedule and Info ~ Podcast Website ~ Episode Transcript   ~ KNOWLEDGE IS POWER, AND SLEEP IS OVERRATED ~  

In the first installment of MFFI's espionage series, Shane gives Duncan an overview of the spy game, from its origins in postiquity through the Cold War and all the way to the modern intelligence industry.  ~ Join the MFFI community and vote on episode topics via DISCORD ~ In this episode:  Sun Tzu and the Art of War Francis Walsingham and Mary Queen of Scots Alberto Ridolfi Louis XIV and the Cabinet Noir George Washington, America’s First Spy Master The Culper Ring Nathan Hale James Armistead and Lafayette  Benedict Arnold The Great Game Embassies and Diplomats The Evidenzbureau British Topographical & Statistic Department The Military Information Division The Secret Service Bureau Directorate of Military Intelligence Section 5 (MI5) Military Intelligence Section 6 (MI6) Office of Strategic Services The CIA SIGINT The NSA Cipher Bureau  The Black Chamber KGB The Cold War  Life as a Spy ~ 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 ~ Shane's Comedy Schedule and Info ~ Podcast Website ~ Episode Transcript   ~ KNOWLEDGE IS POWER, AND SLEEP IS OVERRATED ~    

One traveler’s dream vacation is another’s nightmare. This week, Shane shares his personal picks for some of the least appealing tourist destinations on earth, and a couple that are just plain bizarre. ~ Join the MFFI community and vote on episode topics via DISCORD ~ In this episode:  Bubblegum Alley (San Luis Obispo) Ark Encounter (Kentucky) Aokigahara ("Suicide Forest,” Japan) Isla De Las Munecas (Island of the Dolls, Mexico) Juju Love Island (South Korea) Carhenge (Car Art Reserve, Nebraska) ~ 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 ~ Shane's Comedy Schedule and Info ~ Podcast Website ~ Episode Transcript   ~ KNOWLEDGE IS POWER, AND SLEEP IS OVERRATED ~  

In the second MFFI host-swap episode, Duncan teaches Shane  about a bevvy of baffling and little-known cryptids from around the globe.  ~ Join the MFFI community and vote on episode topics via DISCORD ~ In this episode:  Indrid Cold (the Smiling Man) The Fresno Alien Popobawa Tikbalang Melon Heads  Skunk Ape The Green Children of Woolpit Kelpie (Water Horse) The Bunny Man The Pope Lick Monster ~ 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 ~ Shane's Comedy Schedule and Info ~ Podcast Website   ~ KNOWLEDGE IS POWER, AND SLEEP IS OVERRATED ~  

In the latest "what the hell were they thinking" edition of MFFI, the boys trace the history of advertising and then call out the worst marketing blunders of all time.  ~ Join the MFFI community and vote on episode topics via DISCORD ~ In this episode:  Early advertisements The evolution of logos Sign boards, trademarks, and town criers The rise of the printing press Trade cards, print ads, newspapers, and trade publications The origin of false advertising The father of modern advertising, Thomas J Barratt Pears Soap Brand curation and positive associations N.W. Ayer and Son, the first American advertising agency Diamond rings are vile Sex sells Helen Lansdowne and the Woodbury Soap Company "A skin you love to touch" Richard Nixon and the Public Health Cigarette Smoking Act of 1970 The FTC and advertising regulations Kendall Jenner's Pepsi debacle Dove (doh) soap Bloomingdales spikes the eggnog Sprite sucks H&M & WTF Peloton cycles into infamy Hyundai commits public-relations sepukku  ~ 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 ~ Shane's Comedy Schedule and Info ~ Podcast Website ~ Episode Transcript   ~ KNOWLEDGE IS POWER, AND SLEEP IS OVERRATED ~  

BEGONE, FOUL DEMON!! NO LONGER SHALL YOU BEDEVIL THE INSOMNIACS OF THE MIDNIGHT MASSES (Apologies for the caps lock, but Satan doesn't respect lowercase.) What's the difference between a demonic vexation, an infestation, and an oppression? How many demons do you have to host to become Legion? And is the Pope really on Twitter? Join the boys for a deep-dive into hellfire and brimstone in this examination of the disturbing history of exorcism and demonic possession.   ~ Join the MFFI community and vote on episode topics via DISCORD ~ In this episode:  Ancient exorcisms in Babylon Demonic possession in the Bible Relevant Biblical passages Jesus, demons, and exorcisms Judas Mark 5: My name is Legion The Pope on Twitter Official Exorcist of Indiana, Father Vincent Lambert Demonic entry points and doorways Sexual abuse and demonic possession The International Association of Exorcists Infestations, Vexations, Obssessions, and Subjections The Exorcist, the movie Peter Blatty, Linda Blair, Roland Doe/Robbie Mannheim Cultural impact of the film Discernment Qualifications to receive an exorcism The ritual itself Notable cases of possession Jason Dalton and the Uber Demon The Tanacu exorcism ~ 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 ~ Shane's Comedy Schedule and Info ~ Podcast Website ~ Episode Transcript   ~ KNOWLEDGE IS POWER, AND SLEEP IS OVERRATED ~  

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. ~ Join the MFFI community and vote on episode topics via DISCORD ~ In this episode:  Bindeez (Aqua Dots) Tylenol Takata Airbags Easy-Bake Oven Anti-Drug Pencils Vitamin Water ~ 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 ~ Shane's Comedy Schedule and Info ~ Podcast Website ~ Episode Transcript   ~ KNOWLEDGE IS POWER, AND SLEEP IS OVERRATED ~  

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. ~ Join the MFFI community and vote on episode topics via DISCORD ~ In this episode: Australia: Rabbits of Queensland The United Kingdom: Royal Fish Tasmania: "No Questions Asked" Singapore: Chewing-Gum Ban Germany: Gas on the Autobahn  Canada: Protectionist Media The Caribbean: Saint Kitts Public Profanity Ban Switzerland: Solo Guinea Pigs ~ 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 ~ Shane's Comedy Schedule and Info ~ Podcast Website ~ Episode Transcript   ~ KNOWLEDGE IS POWER, AND SLEEP IS OVERRATED ~  

Are robots dangerous? Is Artificial Intelligence destined to take over the world?  The short answers: yes, and eventually. The robot apocalypse is inevitable. But there's no need to stress, because at least for now, machines are complete idiots. Anything that we currently refer to as "AI"--from Siri to Alexa to advanced machine-learning algorithms--are definitely artificial, but they aren't remotely intelligent. Listen to this episode to find out just how intelligent AIs aren't. ~ Join the MFFI community and vote on episode topics via DISCORD ~ In this episode: The Sad State of Artificial Intelligence Alan Turing The Turing Test (the Imitation Game) Google Duplex CPUs VS GPUs Parallel Computing Narrow AI VS General AI Microsoft's "TAY" Chatbot Watson and Urban Dictionary Watson for Oncology Solid Gold Bomb Amazon "Rekognition" Facial Recognition This (blank) Does Not Exist NVIDIA's StyleGAN Amazon's Recruiting Tool ~ 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 ~ Shane's Comedy Schedule and Info ~ Podcast Website ~ Episode Transcript   ~ KNOWLEDGE IS POWER, AND SLEEP IS OVERRATED ~

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.    ~ Join the MFFI community and vote on episode topics via DISCORD ~ In this episode: Prohibition Through the Ages The Code of Hammurabi Beer Bartering The Puritans, Pilgrims, and Alcohol The American Temperance Society Women's Christian Temperance Union Drys vs Wets Visitation Bands Carrie Nation The Anti-Saloon League Wayne Wheeler Wheelerism and Pressure Politics Prohibition and the Ku Klux Klan Blue Mondays World War 1 and the War Against German Brewers The Food and Fuel Control Act The Alcoholic Blues  The Volstead Act and an Epic Mustache The 18th Amendment  Connecticut and Rhode Island, Heroes Woodrow Wilson's Veto Attempt The Conundrum of Enforcement Section 29 Vine-Glo Warren G. Harding Flouts the Law Congress Flouts the Law Congress and the Man in the Green Hat Flout the Law Everyone Flouts the Law Smuggling, Brewing, Bootlegging, Bathtub Gin, Moonshine NASCAR Denatured Alcohol Al Capone The Stock Market Crash Franklin Delano Roosevelt Repeal ~ 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 ~ Shane's Comedy Schedule and Info ~ Podcast Website ~ Episode Transcript   ~ KNOWLEDGE IS POWER, AND SLEEP IS OVERRATED ~

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... ~ Join the MFFI community and vote on episode topics via DISCORD ~ In this episode:  The Doomsday Clock The Bulletin of Atomic Scientists Anthropogenic Risks vs Non-Anthropogenic Risks The Global Catastrophic Risk Conference Close Calls (NORAD fails) Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) Gold Bullion International Rivalries Nuclear War Asteroids (Boomsplode Cataclysm) Artificial Intelligence Super-volcanoes Yellowstone Caldera Long Vally Super-Volcano Climate Change, briefly Pandemic, briefly The Great Deoxygenation Red Giant/White Dwarf ~ 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 ~ Shane's Comedy Schedule and Info ~ Podcast Website ~ Episode Transcript   ~ KNOWLEDGE IS POWER, AND SLEEP IS OVERRATED ~

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.   ~ Join the MFFI community and vote on episode topics via DISCORD ~ In this episode: Cognitive Dissonance The Baader-Meinhof Phenomenon The Scarcity Principle Mere-Exposure Effect False Consensus Effect Belief Perseverance Attribution Errors The Spotlight Effect Illusion of Transparency Recency Bias The Madonna-Whore Complex ~ 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 ~ Shane's Comedy Schedule and Info ~ Podcast Website ~ Episode Transcript   ~ KNOWLEDGE IS POWER, AND SLEEP IS OVERRATED ~

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 discord: Meet the Midnight Masses! Join Shane and Duncan and the rest of the Insomniacs on Discord. https://discord.gg/4KUWbgj4PN   In this episode: Braveheart dissected and debunked Robert the Bruce speaks in platitudes  Mac Vs Mc Scottish slavery Grave-robbing serial killer duo Hare and Burke Scotland sucks at currency Mòrag of Loch Morar Chicken Tikka Masala The largest hedge Bonnybridge UFOs ~ 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!  https://midnightbonus.weebly.com/midnight-merch.html  ~ CONTACT: Leave an audio message: https://www.podpage.com/midnight-facts-for-insomniacs/voicemail/popup/?from=https://www.podpage.com/midnight-facts-for-insomniacs/ ~ Leave a voicemail or shoot us a text with comments, suggestions, or feedback: +1 (408) 596-4603 ~ Email: mailto:[email protected] ~  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/midnightfactsforinsomniacs/ ~ Discord: https://discord.gg/4KUWbgj4PN ~ Shane's Comedy Schedule and Info: www.shanerogers.net  ~ Episode Transcript: https://mcdn.podbean.com/mf/web/y9mbtb/Scotland.pdf ~ Website:  www.midnightfactsforinsomniacs.com   ~ KNOWLEDGE IS POWER, AND SLEEP IS OVERRATED ~  

Meet the Midnight Masses! Join Shane and Duncan and the rest of the Insomniacs on Discord: https://discord.gg/4KUWbgj4PN ~ 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)   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!  https://midnightbonus.weebly.com/midnight-merch.html  ~ CONTACT: Leave an audio message: https://www.podpage.com/midnight-facts-for-insomniacs/voicemail/popup/?from=https://www.podpage.com/midnight-facts-for-insomniacs/ ~ Leave a voicemail or shoot us a text with comments, suggestions, or feedback: +1 (408) 596-4603 ~ Email: mailto:[email protected] ~  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/midnightfactsforinsomniacs/ ~ Discord: https://discord.gg/4KUWbgj4PN ~ Shane's Comedy Schedule and Info: www.shanerogers.net  ~ Website:  www.midnightfactsforinsomniacs.com ~ Episode Transcript: https://mcdn.podbean.com/mf/web/ngp55z/Diets.pdf   ~ KNOWLEDGE IS POWER, AND SLEEP IS OVERRATED ~  

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   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!  https://midnightbonus.weebly.com/midnight-merch.html  ~ CONTACT: Leave an audio message: https://www.podpage.com/midnight-facts-for-insomniacs/voicemail/popup/?from=https://www.podpage.com/midnight-facts-for-insomniacs/ ~ Leave a voicemail or shoot us a text with comments, suggestions, or feedback: +1 (408) 596-4603 ~ Email: mailto:[email protected] ~  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/midnightfactsforinsomniacs/ ~ Discord: https://discord.gg/4KUWbgj4PN ~ Shane's Comedy Schedule and Info: www.shanerogers.net  ~ Website:  www.midnightfactsforinsomniacs.com ~ Episode Transcript: https://mcdn.podbean.com/mf/web/zmgay6/Fads.pdf   ~ KNOWLEDGE IS POWER, AND SLEEP IS OVERRATED ~  

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? ~ 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!  https://midnightbonus.weebly.com/midnight-merch.html  ~ CONTACT: Leave an audio message: https://www.podpage.com/midnight-facts-for-insomniacs/voicemail/popup/?from=https://www.podpage.com/midnight-facts-for-insomniacs/ ~ Leave a voicemail or shoot us a text with comments, suggestions, or feedback: +1 (408) 596-4603 ~ Email: mailto:[email protected] ~  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/midnightfactsforinsomniacs/ ~ Discord: https://discord.gg/4KUWbgj4PN ~ Shane's Comedy Schedule and Info: www.shanerogers.net  ~ Website:  www.midnightfactsforinsomniacs.com ~ Episode Transcript: https://mcdn.podbean.com/mf/web/mx3pbt/SUBSTANDARDSUPERHEROES.pdf   ~ KNOWLEDGE IS POWER, AND SLEEP IS OVERRATED ~  

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 ~ 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!  https://midnightbonus.weebly.com/midnight-merch.html  ~ CONTACT: Leave an audio message: https://www.podpage.com/midnight-facts-for-insomniacs/voicemail/popup/?from=https://www.podpage.com/midnight-facts-for-insomniacs/ ~ Leave a voicemail or shoot us a text with comments, suggestions, or feedback: +1 (408) 596-4603 ~ Email: mailto:[email protected] ~  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/midnightfactsforinsomniacs/ ~ Discord: https://discord.gg/4KUWbgj4PN ~ Shane's Comedy Schedule and Info: www.shanerogers.net  ~ Website:  www.midnightfactsforinsomniacs.com ~ Episode Transcript: https://mcdn.podbean.com/mf/web/mq95bj/MISNOMERS.pdf   ~ KNOWLEDGE IS POWER, AND SLEEP IS OVERRATED ~

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 ~ 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!  https://midnightbonus.weebly.com/midnight-merch.html  ~ CONTACT: Leave an audio message: https://www.podpage.com/midnight-facts-for-insomniacs/voicemail/popup/?from=https://www.podpage.com/midnight-facts-for-insomniacs/ ~ Leave a voicemail or shoot us a text with comments, suggestions, or feedback: +1 (408) 596-4603 ~ Email: mailto:[email protected] ~  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/midnightfactsforinsomniacs/ ~ Discord: https://discord.gg/4KUWbgj4PN ~ Shane's Comedy Schedule and Info: www.shanerogers.net  ~ Website:  www.midnightfactsforinsomniacs.com ~ Episode Transcript: https://mcdn.podbean.com/mf/web/qmjvby/ForbiddenTourism.pdf   ~ KNOWLEDGE IS POWER, AND SLEEP IS OVERRATED ~

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 ~ 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!  https://midnightbonus.weebly.com/midnight-merch.html  ~ CONTACT: Leave a voicemail or shoot us a text with comments, suggestions, or feedback: +1 (408) 596-4603 Email with topic suggestions etc: mailto:[email protected] ~  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/midnightfactsforinsomniacs/ ~ Discord: https://discord.gg/4KUWbgj4PN   ~ Shane's Comedy Schedule and Info: www.shanerogers.net  ~ Website:  www.midnightfactsforinsomniacs.com ~ Episode Transcript: https://mcdn.podbean.com/mf/web/vfjdxr/TAXES.pdf   ~ KNOWLEDGE IS POWER, AND SLEEP IS OVERRATED ~

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 ~ 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!  https://midnightbonus.weebly.com/midnight-merch.html  ~ CONTACT: Leave an audio message: https://www.podpage.com/midnight-facts-for-insomniacs/voicemail/popup/?from=https://www.podpage.com/midnight-facts-for-insomniacs/ ~ Leave a voicemail or shoot us a text with comments, suggestions, or feedback: +1 (408) 596-4603 ~ Email with topic suggestions etc: mailto:[email protected] ~  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/midnightfactsforinsomniacs/ ~ Discord: https://discord.gg/4KUWbgj4PN ~ Shane's Comedy Schedule and Info: www.shanerogers.net  ~ Website:  www.midnightfactsforinsomniacs.com ~ Episode Transcript: https://mcdn.podbean.com/mf/web/5chixw/Murdersville.pdf   ~ KNOWLEDGE IS POWER, AND SLEEP IS OVERRATED ~

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  ~ 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!  https://midnightbonus.weebly.com/midnight-merch.html  ~ CONTACT: Leave an audio message: https://www.podpage.com/midnight-facts-for-insomniacs/voicemail/popup/?from=https://www.podpage.com/midnight-facts-for-insomniacs/# Email with topic suggestions etc: mailto:[email protected] ~  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/midnightfactsforinsomniacs/ ~ Discord: https://discord.gg/4KUWbgj4PN   ~ Shane's Comedy Schedule and Info: www.shanerogers.net  ~ Website:  www.midnightfactsforinsomniacs.com ~ Episode Transcript: https://mcdn.podbean.com/mf/web/5chixw/Murdersville.pdf   ~ KNOWLEDGE IS POWER, AND SLEEP IS OVERRATED ~

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 ~ 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!  https://midnightbonus.weebly.com/midnight-merch.html  ~ CONTACT: Leave a voicemail or shoot us a text with comments, suggestions, or feedback: +1 (408) 596-4603 Email with topic suggestions etc: mailto:[email protected] ~  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/midnightfactsforinsomniacs/ ~ Discord: https://discord.gg/4KUWbgj4PN   ~ Shane's Comedy Schedule and Info: www.shanerogers.net  ~ Website:  www.midnightfactsforinsomniacs.com ~ Episode Transcript: https://mcdn.podbean.com/mf/web/p8yhg2/ModernSnakeOil.pdf   ~ KNOWLEDGE IS POWER, AND SLEEP IS OVERRATED ~

Inbreeding: not a great strategy for maintaining your sanity. Join the guys as they celebrate--and mock--the craziest kings, tyrants, and dictators in history.    In this episode: Nebuchadnezzar II Caligula Nero Oliver Cromwell Henry VI Ivan the Terrible ...and more ~ 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!  https://midnightbonus.weebly.com/midnight-merch.html  ~ CONTACT: Leave a voicemail or shoot us a text with comments, suggestions, or feedback: +1 (408) 596-4603 Email with topic suggestions etc: mailto:[email protected] ~  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/midnightfactsforinsomniacs/ ~ Discord: https://discord.gg/4KUWbgj4PN   ~ Shane's Comedy Schedule and Info: www.shanerogers.net  ~ Website:  www.midnightfactsforinsomniacs.com ~ Episode Transcript: https://mcdn.podbean.com/mf/web/hmmvcg/TYRANTS.pdf   ~ KNOWLEDGE IS POWER, AND SLEEP IS OVERRATED ~

Nuclear power is about as popular as a three-eyed fish, but it still provides 10% of the world's electricity (and double that percentage in America). So how bad IS this stuff? And is there a possible future in which nuclear power provides almost ALL of the world's energy? (Spoiler: there is!)   Join the boys for an irradiated romp through the science, history, and future of nuclear power.   In this epidode: Don't call it "nucular" Statistics etc. A nuclear reactor is a steam engine Components of a fission reactor Splitting the Adam (atom) Nuclear rods Uranium-235 and chain reactions Cadmium control rods History of nuclear power Willhelm Rontgen Marie Curie Ernest Rutherford Albert Einstein  Enrico Fermi The Manhattan Project The Atomic Energy Commission Chicago Pile 1 Experimental Breeder Reactor 1 Nuclear Submarines Nuclear meltdowns (Chernobyl, 3-Mile Island, Fukushima) Nuclear waste "mishaps" The future of nuclear energy Nuclear fusion Plasma States of matter Bose-Einstein condensate quark- glucagon plasma neutron-degenerate matter Deuterium-Tritium reaction (D-T) Plasma containment: magnets Tokamaks ITER: International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor.  Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory ~ 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!  https://midnightbonus.weebly.com/midnight-merch.html  ~ CONTACT: Leave a voicemail or shoot us a text with comments, suggestions, or feedback: +1 (408) 596-4603 Email with topic suggestions etc: mailto:[email protected] ~  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/midnightfactsforinsomniacs/ ~ Discord: https://discord.gg/4KUWbgj4PN   ~ Shane's Comedy Schedule and Info: www.shanerogers.net  ~ Website:  www.midnightfactsforinsomniacs.com ~ Episode Transcript: https://mcdn.podbean.com/mf/web/ukkmfs/NuclearPower.pdf   ~ KNOWLEDGE IS POWER, AND SLEEP IS OVERRATED ~

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) ~ 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!  https://midnightbonus.weebly.com/midnight-merch.html  ~ CONTACT: Leave a voicemail or shoot us a text with comments, suggestions, or feedback: +1 (408) 596-4603 Email with topic suggestions etc: mailto:[email protected] ~  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/midnightfactsforinsomniacs/ ~ Discord: https://discord.gg/4KUWbgj4PN ~ Shane's Comedy Schedule and Info: www.shanerogers.net  ~ Website:  www.midnightfactsforinsomniacs.com ~ Episode Transcript: https://mcdn.podbean.com/mf/web/ic6tu3/StupidCriminals_2btpxh.pdf   ~ KNOWLEDGE IS POWER, AND SLEEP IS OVERRATED ~

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 ~ 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!  https://midnightbonus.weebly.com/midnight-merch.html  ~ CONTACT: Leave a voicemail or shoot us a text with comments, suggestions, or feedback: +1 (408) 596-4603 Email with topic suggestions etc: mailto:[email protected] ~  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/midnightfactsforinsomniacs/ ~ Discord: https://discord.gg/4KUWbgj4PN ~ Shane's Comedy Schedule and Info: www.shanerogers.net  ~ Website:  www.midnightfactsforinsomniacs.com ~ Episode Transcript: https://mcdn.podbean.com/mf/web/bbhn6b/MEMES.pdf   ~ KNOWLEDGE IS POWER, AND SLEEP IS OVERRATED ~

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   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!  https://midnightbonus.weebly.com/midnight-merch.html  ~ CONTACT: Leave a voicemail or shoot us a text with comments, suggestions, or feedback: +1 (408) 596-4603 Email with topic suggestions etc: mailto:[email protected] ~  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/midnightfactsforinsomniacs/ ~ Discord: https://discord.gg/4KUWbgj4PN ~ Shane's Comedy Schedule and Info: www.shanerogers.net  ~ MFFI Website:  www.midnightfactsforinsomniacs.com ~ Episode Transcript: https://mcdn.podbean.com/mf/web/jigmhw/QANON.pdf   ~ KNOWLEDGE IS POWER, AND SLEEP IS OVERRATED ~

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 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!  https://midnightbonus.weebly.com/midnight-merch.html  ~ CONTACT: Leave a voicemail or shoot us a text with comments, suggestions, or feedback: +1 (408) 596-4603 Email with topic suggestions etc: mailto:[email protected] ~  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/midnightfactsforinsomniacs/ ~ Discord: https://discord.gg/yRrhshhtqu ~ Shane's Comedy Schedule and Info: www.shanerogers.net  ~ Website:  www.midnightfactsforinsomniacs.com ~ Episode Transcript: https://mcdn.podbean.com/mf/web/iv2unq/Scandals-TV.pdf   ~ KNOWLEDGE IS POWER, AND SLEEP IS OVERRATED ~

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 ~ 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!  https://midnightbonus.weebly.com/midnight-merch.html  ~ CONTACT: Leave a voicemail or shoot us a text with comments, suggestions, or feedback: +1 (408) 596-4603 Email with topic suggestions etc: mailto:[email protected] ~  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/midnightfactsforinsomniacs/ ~ Shane's Comedy Schedule and Info: www.shanerogers.net  ~ Website:  www.midnightfactsforinsomniacs.com ~ Episode Transcript: https://mcdn.podbean.com/mf/web/ai9e4n/URBAN_LEGENDS.pdf   ~ KNOWLEDGE IS POWER, AND SLEEP IS OVERRATED ~

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   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! https://midnightbonus.weebly.com/midnight-merch.html  ~ CONTACT: Leave a voicemail or shoot us a text with comments, suggestions, or feedback: +1 (408) 596-4603 Email with topic suggestions etc: mailto:[email protected] ~  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/midnightfactsforinsomniacs/ ~ Twitter: https://twitter.com/factsmidnight ~ Shane's Comedy Schedule and Info: www.shanerogers.net  ~ MFFI Website:  www.midnightfactsforinsomniacs.com ~ Episode Transcript: https://mcdn.podbean.com/mf/web/eju5ta/RIDICULOUS_LAWSUITS.pdf   ~ KNOWLEDGE IS POWER, AND SLEEP IS OVERRATED ~

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 ~ 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!  https://midnightbonus.weebly.com/midnight-merch.html  ~ CONTACT: Leave a voicemail or shoot us a text with comments, suggestions, or feedback: +1 (408) 596-4603 Email with topic suggestions etc: mailto:[email protected] ~  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/midnightfactsforinsomniacs/ ~ Twitter: https://twitter.com/factsmidnight ~ Shane's Comedy Schedule and Info: www.shanerogers.net  ~ Website:  www.midnightfactsforinsomniacs.com   ~ KNOWLEDGE IS POWER, AND SLEEP IS OVERRATED ~

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! ~ In this episode: The Dover Demon The Squonk The Mothman The Flatwoods Monster (Green Monster) The Ogopogo The Wendigo ~ 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!  https://midnightbonus.weebly.com/midnight-merch.html  ~ CONTACT: Leave an audio message: https://www.podpage.com/midnight-facts-for-insomniacs/voicemail/popup/?from=https://www.podpage.com/midnight-facts-for-insomniacs/ ~ Leave a voicemail or shoot us a text with comments, suggestions, or feedback: +1 (408) 596-4603 ~ Email: mailto:[email protected] ~  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/midnightfactsforinsomniacs/ ~ Discord: https://discord.gg/4KUWbgj4PN ~ Shane's Comedy Schedule and Info: www.shanerogers.net  ~ Episode Transcript: https://mcdn.podbean.com/mf/web/jfazy2/CRYPTIDS_MARK_2.pdf   ~ KNOWLEDGE IS POWER, AND SLEEP IS OVERRATED ~    

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 ~ 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!  https://midnightbonus.weebly.com/midnight-merch.html  ~ CONTACT: Leave an audio message: https://www.podpage.com/midnight-facts-for-insomniacs/voicemail/popup/?from=https://www.podpage.com/midnight-facts-for-insomniacs/ ~ Leave a voicemail or shoot us a text with comments, suggestions, or feedback: +1 (408) 596-4603 ~ Email: mailto:[email protected] ~  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/midnightfactsforinsomniacs/ ~ Discord: https://discord.gg/4KUWbgj4PN ~ Shane's Comedy Schedule and Info: www.shanerogers.net  ~ Episode Transcript: https://mcdn.podbean.com/mf/web/a4b4zf/MANOSPHERE.pdf   ~ KNOWLEDGE IS POWER, AND SLEEP IS OVERRATED ~    

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) ~ 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!  https://midnightbonus.weebly.com/midnight-merch.html  ~ CONTACT: Leave an audio message: https://www.podpage.com/midnight-facts-for-insomniacs/voicemail/popup/?from=https://www.podpage.com/midnight-facts-for-insomniacs/ ~ Leave a voicemail or shoot us a text with comments, suggestions, or feedback: +1 (408) 596-4603 ~ Email: mailto:[email protected] ~  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/midnightfactsforinsomniacs/ ~ Discord: https://discord.gg/4KUWbgj4PN ~ Shane's Comedy Schedule and Info: www.shanerogers.net  ~ Episode Transcript: https://mcdn.podbean.com/mf/web/eym5es/THE_DEVIL.pdf   ~ KNOWLEDGE IS POWER, AND SLEEP IS OVERRATED ~    

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 ~ 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!  https://midnightbonus.weebly.com/midnight-merch.html  ~ CONTACT: Leave an audio message: https://www.podpage.com/midnight-facts-for-insomniacs/voicemail/popup/?from=https://www.podpage.com/midnight-facts-for-insomniacs/ ~ Leave a voicemail or shoot us a text with comments, suggestions, or feedback: +1 (408) 596-4603 ~ Email: mailto:[email protected] ~  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/midnightfactsforinsomniacs/ ~ Discord: https://discord.gg/4KUWbgj4PN ~ Shane's Comedy Schedule and Info: www.shanerogers.net  ~ Episode Transcript: https://mcdn.podbean.com/mf/web/4b4q5x/FAILURES.pdf   ~ KNOWLEDGE IS POWER, AND SLEEP IS OVERRATED ~

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 ~ 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!  https://midnightbonus.weebly.com/midnight-merch.html  ~ CONTACT: Leave an audio message: https://www.podpage.com/midnight-facts-for-insomniacs/voicemail/popup/?from=https://www.podpage.com/midnight-facts-for-insomniacs/ ~ Leave a voicemail or shoot us a text with comments, suggestions, or feedback: +1 (408) 596-4603 ~ Email: mailto:[email protected] ~  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/midnightfactsforinsomniacs/ ~ Discord: https://discord.gg/4KUWbgj4PN ~ Shane's Comedy Schedule and Info: www.shanerogers.net  ~ Episode Transcript https://mcdn.podbean.com/mf/web/2as5wu/Torture_and_Interrogation.pdf   ~ KNOWLEDGE IS POWER, AND SLEEP IS OVERRATED ~

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! 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!  https://midnightbonus.weebly.com/midnight-merch.html  ~ CONTACT: Leave an audio message: https://www.podpage.com/midnight-facts-for-insomniacs/voicemail/popup/?from=https://www.podpage.com/midnight-facts-for-insomniacs/ ~ Leave a voicemail or shoot us a text with comments, suggestions, or feedback: +1 (408) 596-4603 ~ Email: mailto:[email protected] ~  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/midnightfactsforinsomniacs/ ~ Discord: https://discord.gg/4KUWbgj4PN ~ Shane's Comedy Schedule and Info: www.shanerogers.net  ~ Episode Transcript: https://mcdn.podbean.com/mf/web/a7435y/Battle_for_the_Living_Room_From_Pong_to_the_Console_Wars.pdf   ~ KNOWLEDGE IS POWER, AND SLEEP IS OVERRATED ~    

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 ~ 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!  https://midnightbonus.weebly.com/midnight-merch.html  ~ CONTACT: Leave an audio message: https://www.podpage.com/midnight-facts-for-insomniacs/voicemail/popup/?from=https://www.podpage.com/midnight-facts-for-insomniacs/ ~ Leave a voicemail or shoot us a text with comments, suggestions, or feedback: +1 (408) 596-4603 ~ Email: mailto:[email protected] ~  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/midnightfactsforinsomniacs/ ~ Discord: https://discord.gg/4KUWbgj4PN ~ Shane's Comedy Schedule and Info: www.shanerogers.net  ~ Episode Transcript: https://mcdn.podbean.com/mf/web/geuhri/Transcript_Mentalists_Faith_Healers_and_Frauds.pdf   ~ KNOWLEDGE IS POWER, AND SLEEP IS OVERRATED ~

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 ~ 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!  https://midnightbonus.weebly.com/midnight-merch.html  ~ CONTACT: Leave an audio message: https://www.podpage.com/midnight-facts-for-insomniacs/voicemail/popup/?from=https://www.podpage.com/midnight-facts-for-insomniacs/ ~ Leave a voicemail or shoot us a text with comments, suggestions, or feedback: +1 (408) 596-4603 ~ Email: mailto:[email protected] ~  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/midnightfactsforinsomniacs/ ~ Discord: https://discord.gg/4KUWbgj4PN ~ Shane's Comedy Schedule and Info: www.shanerogers.net  ~ Episode Transcript:  https://mcdn.podbean.com/mf/web/gexgdw/Transcript_Sketchy_and_Unethical_Experiments.pdf   ~ KNOWLEDGE IS POWER, AND SLEEP IS OVERRATED ~    

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).  ~ In this episode: Why do we sleep? The Dead Zone REM and REM Behavior Disorder Sleep Paralysis The Body's Battery - ATP (Adenosine Triphosphate) Effects of Sleep Deprivation Prehistoric vs Modern Sleep Cycles Dreams and Dream Interpretation Hypnagogic Jerk The Egyptian Dream Book Sleep Positions and Ergonomics Sleep Apnea and Snoring Hard vs Soft Mattresses vs the Floor Onset Insomnia Maintenance Insomnia Techniques for Managing Insomnia ...and more ~ 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!  https://midnightbonus.weebly.com/midnight-merch.html  ~ CONTACT: Leave an audio message: https://www.podpage.com/midnight-facts-for-insomniacs/voicemail/popup/?from=https://www.podpage.com/midnight-facts-for-insomniacs/ ~ Leave a voicemail or shoot us a text with comments, suggestions, or feedback: +1 (408) 596-4603 ~ Email: mailto:[email protected] ~  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/midnightfactsforinsomniacs/ ~ Discord: https://discord.gg/4KUWbgj4PN ~ Shane's Comedy Schedule and Info: www.shanerogers.net  ~ Episode Transcript: https://mcdn.podbean.com/mf/web/ydi9pt/Transcript_SLEEP_AND_INSOMNIA.pdf   ~ KNOWLEDGE IS POWER, AND SLEEP IS OVERRATED ~

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 ~ 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!  https://midnightbonus.weebly.com/midnight-merch.html  ~ CONTACT: Leave an audio message: https://www.podpage.com/midnight-facts-for-insomniacs/voicemail/popup/?from=https://www.podpage.com/midnight-facts-for-insomniacs/ ~ Leave a voicemail or shoot us a text with comments, suggestions, or feedback: +1 (408) 596-4603 ~ Email: mailto:[email protected] ~  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/midnightfactsforinsomniacs/ ~ Discord: https://discord.gg/4KUWbgj4PN ~ Shane's Comedy Schedule and Info: www.shanerogers.net ~ Episode Transcript: https://mcdn.podbean.com/mf/web/fq4pfr/Transcript_The_Darwin_Awards.pdf   ~ KNOWLEDGE IS POWER, AND SLEEP IS OVERRATED ~

For many of us, the word “Yakuza” conjures images of full-body tattoos and severed pinkies, but the actual legacy of organized crime in Japan is much more nuanced. Are members of the Yakuza modern-day Samurai, protectors of the common people, or just a bunch of stone-cold killers? Join Shane and Duncan for an exploration of Japan's most famous criminal organization.    In this episode:  Yakuza: Good Samaritans? Nomenclature: Boryokudan vs Ninkyo Dantai Origins: Bakuto and Tekiya Hierarchy: Oyabun and Kobun Yubitsume (ritual amputation) Irezumi (ritual tattooing)  The largest Yakuza clan: the Yamaguchi Gumi The infamous "Concrete-Encased High School Girl Murder Case" The Anti-Boryokudan acts ...and more ~ 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!  https://midnightbonus.weebly.com/midnight-merch.html  ~ CONTACT: Leave an audio message: https://www.podpage.com/midnight-facts-for-insomniacs/voicemail/popup/?from=https://www.podpage.com/midnight-facts-for-insomniacs/ ~ Leave a voicemail or shoot us a text with comments, suggestions, or feedback: +1 (408) 596-4603 ~ Email: mailto:[email protected] ~  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/midnightfactsforinsomniacs/ ~ Discord: https://discord.gg/4KUWbgj4PN ~ Shane's Comedy Schedule and Info: www.shanerogers.net  ~ Episode Transcript: https://mcdn.podbean.com/mf/web/kqiz8u/Transcript_Organized_Crime_Volume_1_The_Yakuza.pdf   ~ KNOWLEDGE IS POWER, AND SLEEP IS OVERRATED ~

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 ~ 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!  https://midnightbonus.weebly.com/midnight-merch.html  ~ CONTACT: Leave an audio message: https://www.podpage.com/midnight-facts-for-insomniacs/voicemail/popup/?from=https://www.podpage.com/midnight-facts-for-insomniacs/ ~ Leave a voicemail or shoot us a text with comments, suggestions, or feedback: +1 (408) 596-4603 ~ Email: mailto:[email protected] ~  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/midnightfactsforinsomniacs/ ~ Discord: https://discord.gg/4KUWbgj4PN ~ Shane's Comedy Schedule and Info: www.shanerogers.net  ~ Episode Transcript: https://mcdn.podbean.com/mf/web/effmcu/Transcript_Weird_and_Terrifying_Animals.pdf   ~ KNOWLEDGE IS POWER, AND SLEEP IS OVERRATED ~