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American Hysteria

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chelsey weber-smith

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.

#265

#Elsagate (rewind)

This is a rerelease of our 2021 episode. In 2017, YouTube Kids was embroiled in a major sc... more

08 Sep 2025

48 MINS

48:04

08 Sep 2025

#264

Introducing: Conspiracy Theories, Cults, and Crimes

From Jonestown to Heaven’s Gate, to the Octopus Murders and the Waco Siege, the world is f... more

05 Sep 2025

08 MINS

08:10

05 Sep 2025

#263

The Disturbing World of Mobile Game Ads with Panic World Podcast

Warning: REALLY WEIRD EPISODE. On social media and YouTube, bizarre, shocking, disgusting,... more

01 Sep 2025

1 HR 17 MINS

1:17:36

01 Sep 2025

#262

Dear Chelsey and Ask Sarah Marshall

In the spirit of American advice columnists Dear Abby and Ann Landers, I am joined by Sara... more

25 Aug 2025

1 HR 13 MINS

1:13:34

25 Aug 2025

#261

DEAR ABBY AND ANN LANDERS

Ann Landers and Abigail Van Buren, also known as Dear Abby, were newspaper advice columnis... more

18 Aug 2025

1 HR 13 MINS

1:13:27

18 Aug 2025

#260

Titanic in Real Time

This is a bonus episode from our subscribers-only podcast Hysteria Home Companion. Our ass... more

11 Aug 2025

1 HR 02 MINS

1:02:56

11 Aug 2025

#259

Polybius: The Arcade Conspiracy

This is a bonus episode from our subscribers-only podcast Hysteria Home Companion. I share... more

04 Aug 2025

40 MINS

40:36

04 Aug 2025

#258

Not Just a Phase: Goths Through History with Christine Laskowski

Christine Laskowski shares her research into how an ancient barbarian people known as the ... more

28 Jul 2025

1 HR 15 MINS

1:15:14

28 Jul 2025

#257

The Imaginary Gods of ChatGPT with Journalist Miles Klee

Miles Klee is the author of a recent Rolling Stone article titled People Are Losing Loved ... more

21 Jul 2025

1 HR 00 MINS

1:00:04

21 Jul 2025

#256

The FBI's White Christian Nation with Lerone A. Martin

Lerone A. Martin is the author of The Gospel of J. Edgar Hoover: How the FBI Aided and Abe... more

14 Jul 2025

1 HR 23 MINS

1:23:34

14 Jul 2025

#255

Listen Now: American Scandal

Every scandal begins with a lie. But the truth will come out. And then comes the fallout a... more

08 Jul 2025

06 MINS

06:29

08 Jul 2025

#254

Staring at the Sun on LSD with Sarah Marshall of 'You're Wrong About'

Have you ever heard the urban legend about the group of hippie college students that went ... more

07 Jul 2025

1 HR 22 MINS

1:22:40

07 Jul 2025

#253

The Call is Coming From Inside the House with Sarah Marshall of 'You're Wrong About'

You've probably heard the urban legend called the Babysitter and the Man Upstairs or at le... more

30 Jun 2025

1 HR 31 MINS

1:31:03

30 Jun 2025

#252

THE HIPPIE BABYSITTER BABY ROAST

Have you ever heard the urban legend about the babysitter who takes LSD and accidentally b... more

23 Jun 2025

58 MINS

58:20

23 Jun 2025

#251

Context Clues: Don't Tell Mom the Babysitter's High

This episode will give some extra context for our upcoming urban legend episodes: The Hipp... more

16 Jun 2025

51 MINS

51:21

16 Jun 2025

#250

GENDER REVEAL PARTIES: Pride Rewind

Happy Pride month to all who observe! This is a rerelease of one of our favorite episodes.... more

09 Jun 2025

42 MINS

42:51

09 Jun 2025

#249

The Last Prison Rodeo with Journalist Adam Mahoney

Since 1965, the Louisiana State Penitentiary, also known as Angola, has held an incredibly... more

02 Jun 2025

57 MINS

57:35

02 Jun 2025

#248

Mayhem! at the Minecraft Movie with BJ Colangelo

Over the last couple months, groups of Minecraft fans have been making TikTok videos of th... more

26 May 2025

1 HR 14 MINS

1:14:26

26 May 2025

#247

Lost Boy Larry with Producer Miranda Zickler

In 1973, mysterious communications from a young boy came over CB radios in the Southwest, ... more

19 May 2025

1 HR 09 MINS

1:09:58

19 May 2025

#246

BALLOON BOY

In 2009, the news reported live as a six-year-old boy careened through the air at 7,000 fe... more

12 May 2025

55 MINS

55:07

12 May 2025

#245

New Context: Gang Accusations and Initiations

Right now we are seeing accusations of gang associations used to to justify abducting immi... more

05 May 2025

1 HR 50 MINS

1:50:52

05 May 2025

#244

Hoax Diary Spectacular with Sarah Marshall of 'You're Wrong About'

Sarah Marshall takes me on a journey through two possible historical literary deceptions a... more

28 Apr 2025

1 HR 36 MINS

1:36:00

28 Apr 2025

#243

The Runaway Nun Hoax pt. 2 with Sarah Marshall of 'You're Wrong About'

*Please listen to part one of our series first.* 'The Awful Disclosures of Maria Monk' was... more

21 Apr 2025

1 HR 27 MINS

1:27:42