American Hysteria podcast

American Hysteria

American Hysteria explores how fantastical thinking has shaped our culture – moral panics, urban legends, hoaxes, crazes, fringe beliefs, and national misunderstandings. Poet-turned-podcaster Chelsey Weber-Smith tells the strangest stories from American history and examines the forces that create the reality we share, and sometimes, the reality we don't.

American Hysteria explores how fantastical thinking has shaped our culture – moral panics, urban legends, hoaxes, crazes, fringe beliefs, and national misunderstandings. Poet-turned-podcaster Chelsey Weber-Smith tells the strangest stories from American history and examines the forces that create the reality we share, and sometimes, the reality we don't.

 

#293

DINOSAURS pt. 2

Prior to becoming stars of the stage, screen, and of wondrous World’s Fairs, dinosaurs had... more

21 hrs Ago

1 HR 01 MINS

1:01:52

21 hrs Ago


#292

DINOSAURS pt. 1

The dinosaur craze of the 1990s, inspired largely by the Jurassic Park movies, led to a le... more

23 Mar 2026

1 HR 05 MINS

1:05:16

23 Mar 2026


#291

The Spooky Side of Pokémon with Guide to the Unknown

The extended media universe of Pokémon has been an obsession for young people since the la... more

16 Mar 2026

1 HR 25 MINS

1:25:40

16 Mar 2026


#290

The Corporate Takeover of Caring with Dr. Mara Einstein

Have you ever been suspicious of a corporation showcasing their commitment to the environm... more

09 Mar 2026

1 HR 19 MINS

1:19:58

09 Mar 2026


#289

BUGS!!!!!! with Akilah Hughes

We have had many media panics about swarms and hordes, about infestations and plagues of d... more

02 Mar 2026

1 HR 02 MINS

1:02:53

02 Mar 2026


#288

Talking to the Future: Nuclear Semiotics (rerun)

[We are taking a break this week so please enjoy a re-release of one of our favorite episo... more

23 Feb 2026

1 HR 07 MINS

1:07:11

23 Feb 2026


#287

JINGLES pt. 2 with Sarah Marshall of 'You're Wrong About'

If you thought the first part of our series was catchy, wait til we enter the modern era w... more

16 Feb 2026

1 HR 32 MINS

1:32:40

16 Feb 2026


#286

Introducing Mind Games

We’re excited to share a preview of a new podcast we think you’d enjoy: Mind Games. What i... more

12 Feb 2026

01 MINS

01:27

12 Feb 2026


#285

JINGLES pt. 1 with Sarah Marshall of 'You're Wrong About'

We all contain within us the many cheesy tunes of catchy capitalism that marked our childh... more

09 Feb 2026

1 HR 24 MINS

1:24:40

09 Feb 2026


#284

A Cult by Any Other Name with Joseph Laycock

Joseph Laycock is the author ofThe Penguin Book of Cults, and for this episode we discuss ... more

02 Feb 2026

1 HR 08 MINS

1:08:10

02 Feb 2026


#283

The Art of (Psychological) War with Annalee Newitz

Annalee Newitz is the author of Stories Are Weapons: Psychological Warfare and the America... more

26 Jan 2026

1 HR 19 MINS

1:19:39

26 Jan 2026


#282

Celebrity Clone Conspiracies with 'No Such Thing' Podcast

For this collaboration with the podcast No Such Thing, we covered the tales of nefarious f... more

19 Jan 2026

58 MINS

58:32

19 Jan 2026


#281

JESUS TOAST

A grilled cheese sandwich, a tortilla, an auto loan company building, a cinnamon roll, and... more

12 Jan 2026

1 HR 07 MINS

1:07:54

12 Jan 2026