Who’s to blame for Malaysia Airlines Flight #370? This week, The Alarmist (Rebecca Delgado Smith) welcomes back friend of the Alarmy Anastasia Kousakis to discuss the baffling and sobering case of Malaysia Airlines Flight #370. With so much scrutiny on airplane safety and security, what could have caused such a tragic accident that remains steeped in mystery to this day? Was improper protocol to blame? Were hijackers involved? Or perhaps the pilot was up to something nefarious? Fact Checker Chri...
Jan 02, 2024•1 hr 5 min•Season 1Ep. 232
New Guest Expert! On this week’s Aftermath, Rebecca speaks with monster aficionado Josh Woods about all things werewolf. Author of O Monstrous World! and host of the podcast The Monster Professor, Josh has some wonderful insight on werewolf theory and what they’ve come to represent in modern society. Afterward, Patreon subscribers can hear the post interview breakdown with Producer Clayton Early and Fact Checker Chris Smith and see how Josh’s input influenced the final verdict. Click below and j...
Dec 28, 2023•38 min
Who’s to blame for the origins of Werewolf Folklore? This week, The Alarmist (Rebecca Delgado Smith) speaks with writer/producer Tracy Sayre about the storied origins of werewolves and whether or not they actually exist. If it’s all just a tall tale, why were they invented in the first place? Does early farming have something to do with it? Maybe the unknown side effects of lead poisoning had people fearing for their lives? Or was it all just collective hysteria? Fact Checker Chris Smith and Pro...
Dec 26, 2023•56 min•Season 1Ep. 231
In May of 1980 near Anaheim California, Dorothy Jane Scott disappeared and would never be seen alive again. Leaving us to wonder decades later, what really happened to Dorothy Jane Scott? Generation Why is a podcast that covers notable true crime cases like this one, and so many more. Every week, hosts Aaron and Justin sit down to discuss a new case covering every angle and theory, walking through the forensic evidence, and interviewing those close to the case, to try and discover what re...
Dec 21, 2023•7 min
New Guest Expert! On this week’s Aftermath, it’s a Christmas miracle! Rebecca speaks with THE Director of Photography on National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation. The one and only Thomas Ackerman. An accomplished cinematographer and Professor in the department of film at UNCSA, Tom shares anecdotes from the set and shares incredible firsthand knowledge of the tone and experience film director John Hughes was trying to capture. Afterward, Patreon subscribers can hear the post interview breakdown and...
Dec 21, 2023•24 min
Who’s to blame for the National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation? This week, The Alarmist (Rebecca Delgado Smith) welcomes podcaster Bridger Winegar to discuss the Griswold family's disastrous holiday gathering gone wrong in National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation. Tensions tend to run high around the holidays, but did Clark’s unrealistic expectations make things worse? Could a lack of boundaries have something to do with it? And why are children up on the Alarmist Board?! Fact Checker Chris Smith and...
Dec 19, 2023•1 hr 2 min•Season 1Ep. 230
From Wondery, and hosted by Laura Beil - The new season of Dr. Death, BAD MAGIC is a story of miraculous cures, magic and murder. When a charismatic young doctor announces revolutionary treatments for cancer and HIV, patients from around the world turn to him for their last chance. As medical experts praise Serhat Gumrukcu’s genius, the company he co-founded rockets in value to over half a billion dollars. But when a team of researchers makes a startling discovery, they begin to suspect the bril...
Dec 15, 2023•6 min
New Mailbag! Like we said last week, we’ve been slacking on the mail and it’s about time we check in with The Alarmy. And good thing we did, this Mailbag is chock-full of amazing new episode suggestions and insightful anecdotes from previous episodes. Join The Alarmist (Rebecca Delgado Smith) as she reads your mail with Producer Clayton Early and Fact Checker Chris Smith. Oh, and you’ll get to hear all about Chris’s new “rebrand” for the show. Don’t forget to rate, review and subscribe. And join...
Dec 14, 2023•40 min
Who’s to blame for the mysterious case of "The Toxic Lady?” This week, The Alarmist (Rebecca Delgado Smith) speaks with director Thales Corrêa about the baffling case of the “Toxic Lady” and the mysterious circumstances surrounding her sudden death in 1994. With so much speculation circling this bizarre incident, is it really surprising that aliens made up on the board? Or perhaps it was simply something more scientific. Maybe chemistry had something to do with it? Fact checker Chris Smith and P...
Dec 12, 2023•51 min•Season 1Ep. 229
New Mailbag! About time?! You’ve got that right. It’s been awhile since we last checked the mail and The Alarmy has a lot to say. We have tales from an Alarmy member who took a sizable detour to visit Biosphere 2, new insights and a pretty promising pitch to improve the Daylight Savings experience for all and plenty of fascinating suggestions for future episodes. Tune in with The Alarmist (Rebecca Delgado Smith), Fact Checker Chris Smith and Producer Clayton Early to see what your fellow Alarmy ...
Dec 07, 2023•45 min
Who’s to blame for the Joan Crawford & Bette Davis Feud? This week, The Alarmist (Rebecca Delgado Smith) welcomes actor Emily Pendergast to discuss the infamous feud between the larger than life Hollywood leading ladies Joan Crawford and Bette Davis. Was the feud as fierce as it sounded or was it invented by the studios and exaggerated by the Hollywood tabloids? Were Joan and Bette merely embracing the narrative and using it to their advantage or was the rivalry real? Fact Checker Chris Smit...
Dec 05, 2023•1 hr 8 min•Season 1Ep. 228
New Guest Expert! On this week’s Aftermath, Rebecca speaks with true crime writer Joe Turner about the hauntingly bizarre story of Daniel LePlante and the rare phenomenon and crime now known as phrogging. Joe shares firsthand accounts from survivors of Daniel LePlante’s crimes and reflects on the environment that created a “perfect storm” which allowed Daniel to carry out his actions. Afterward, Patreon subscribers can join Rebecca and Producer Clayton Early as they reflect and revisit the board...
Nov 30, 2023•37 min
Who’s to blame for the Boy Living in the Walls? This week, The Alarmist (Rebecca Delgado Smith) welcomes friend and comedian Leah Rudick to discuss a terrifying case of Phrogging by Daniel LePlante which led to a series of crimes and gruesome murders in the late 1980’s. Not familiar with Phrogging? Consider this your PSA! Could a lack of awareness about this type of crime be to blame? Is labeling someone an outcast dangerous to society? Or perhaps a technicality in the legal system had something...
Nov 28, 2023•1 hr•Season 1Ep. 227
New Guest Expert! Happy Thanksgiving Alarmy! On this week’s Aftermath, Rebecca revisits the Thanksgiving Day Disaster with Senior writer for Stanford Magazine, Sam Scott. A Bay Area native himself, Scott was just as shocked as we were to find out about this terrible tragedy and its surprising lack of coverage. He also reminds us that the absence of future disasters of this nature might have more to do with luck than public safety changes. Afterward, Patreon subscribers can listen as Rebecca and ...
Nov 23, 2023•22 min
Who’s to blame for the Thanksgiving Day Disaster? This week, The Alarmist (Rebecca Delgado Smith) welcomes Headgum podcast network founder Amir Blumenfeld to discuss the tragic circumstances around the Thanksgiving Day Disaster at Recreation Park in San Francisco circa 1900. They’re joined by Fact Checker Chris Smith and Producer Clayton Early. Did a laissez faire mentality of the time contribute to this preventable tragedy? Why is Herbert Hoover on the board? And once again we find oursel...
Nov 21, 2023•1 hr 2 min•Season 1Ep. 226
New Guest Expert! On this week’s Aftermath, Rebecca speaks with Kevin Mattson about the rise of MTV and the corporatization of the music industry in 1980’s America. A Professor of History at Ohio University, Kevin reminds us of the underground production and distribution of music at the time and what was lost between the artist and listener relationship with the introduction of MTV. Afterward, Patreon subscribers can join Fact Checker Chris Smith and Producer Clayton Early as they revisit the bo...
Nov 16, 2023•31 min
Did video kill the radio star? Who’s to blame? This week, The Alarmist (Rebecca Delgado Smith) welcomes co-host of the In Retrospect podcast Susie Banikarim to help decide once and for all whether the video in fact killed the radio star? What do we even mean when we say that? Is the radio star really dead? Or are they thriving? Obviously, MTV will be part of the conversation, but what about the rise of technology and globalization? Could they have something to do with it? Fact Checker Chris Smit...
Nov 14, 2023•1 hr•Season 1Ep. 225
New Guest Expert! On this week’s Aftermath, Rebecca revisits the epic reign of Genghis Khan with historian Dr. Nicholas Morton. Author of The Mongol Storm: Making and Breaking Empires in the Medieval Near East , Nic emphasizes the unprecedented scale of Khan’s empire and explains why the idea of not expanding was never even an option. Afterward, Patreon subscribers can listen to the post-interview breakdown with Fact Checker Chris Smith and Producer Clayton Early to see if Genghis Khan is stayin...
Nov 09, 2023•35 min
Who’s to blame for the Reign of Genghis Khan? This week, The Alarmist (Rebecca Delgado Smith) welcomes comedian and actor Dusty Warren to discuss the brutal and bloody reign of Genghis Khan through his expansion of the Mongolian Empire; the largest empire in world history. Was Khan driven by an irrational thirst for revenge? Did the earth's climate have something to do with it? Perhaps his obsession with self preservation will take the fall. Fact Checker Chris Smith and Producer Clayton Early jo...
Nov 07, 2023•1 hr 9 min•Season 1Ep. 223
New Guest Expert! On this week’s Aftermath, Rebecca speaks with award-winning reporter Ellen Huet about the boom and bust of the WeWork empire. Having covered the topic for Bloomberg News on season one of their podcast Foundering, Ellen shares fascinating new insight into the company's founder and the unique financial environment the early 2010’s presented for WeWork’s inevitable evolution. Afterward, Patreon subscribers can join Producer Clayton Early and Fact Checker Chris Smith for the post-i...
Nov 02, 2023•40 min
Who’s to blame for the Downfall of WeWork? This week, The Alarmist (Rebecca Delgado Smith) welcomes tech journalist and podcast host Molly Wood to discuss the troublesome history of the WeWork empire. And lucky Alarmy(!), having reported extensively about WeWork on Marketplace, Molly is THE guest (and basically expert) for the job! Did WeWork have a vibes problem? Perhaps too many Vibes? Could Founder Worship be to blame? Maybe a Lack of Oversight had something to do with it. Fact Checker Chris ...
Oct 31, 2023•1 hr 2 min•Season 1Ep. 223
New Guest Expert! On this week’s Aftermath, Rebecca speaks with film scholar Professor Patricia Gill about the deeper meanings of the horror classic Halloween. As Pat articulates, taking into account parenting trends and the social influences of the decades leading up to the making of this film, we see the murderous Michael Myers in an entirely new light. Afterward, Patreon subscribers and listen to the post interview breakdown with Producer Clayton Early and Fact Checker Chris Smith. Spoiler al...
Oct 26, 2023•29 min
Who’s to blame for the Murders in Halloween: The Movie? This week, The Alarmist (Rebecca Delgado Smith) welcomes podcast royalty Amanda Lund and Matt Gourley to discuss the horror film classic Halloween and find out once and for all who’s to blame for the evil that descends upon the town of Haddonfield, IL. Michael Myers, of course! Or is there more to the story? What was going on all those years at Smith’s Grove? Was this a cry for attention? More importantly, what is Michael Myers? An evil hum...
Oct 24, 2023•1 hr 8 min•Season 1Ep. 222
New Guest Expert! On this week’s Aftermath, Rebecca speaks with author and criminologist Will Savive about the haunting murders of the Defeo family. Or as it’s more commonly known, The Amityville Murders. Given the shocking details of this event, it’s no wonder the impact still lives on in the American psyche. Afterward, Patreon subscribers can decompress with Fact Checker Chris Smith and Producer Clayton Early. And Rebecca catches up on some fun Alarmy discourse over on the Patreon page. Not a ...
Oct 19, 2023•23 min
Who’s to blame for the Amityville Murders? This week, The Alarmist (Rebecca Delgado Smith) welcomes fellow podcast host Desi Jedeikin of Hollywood Crime Scene to discuss the gruesome and shocking Amityville Murders. The book, movies and folklore they inspired are scary enough. But, the actual murders continue to haunt and fascinate American society to this day. Tune in and learn about the violence that existed in the Defeo family long before the murders took place. Fact Checker Chris Smith and P...
Oct 17, 2023•55 min•Season 1Ep. 221
New Guest Expert! On this week’s Aftermath, Rebecca speaks with biographer Lyndsy Spence about the wild yet complicated life of the Duchess of Argyll. Author of The Grit in the Pearl: The Scandalous Life of Margaret, Duchess of Argyll , Lyndsy reminds us of the harsh realities within the Aristocracy and its double standards while profiling the bravery The Duchess possessed navigating those waters. And does she reveal the identity of The Headless Man??! Afterward, Patreon Subscribers can listen t...
Oct 12, 2023•33 min
Who’s to blame for the Duchess of Argyll Scandal? This week, The Alarmist (Rebecca Delgado Smith) welcomes podcast co-hosts Matt Marr and Jake Anthony of Reality Gays to discuss the infamous divorce proceedings of Maragret Whigham, the Duchess of Argyll. With rumors and vicious slander abounding, could the British Tabloids have something to do with it? Did this scandal birth the concept of Revenge Porn? Was The Duchess of Argyll oversexed or a sexual trailblazer? Fact Checker Chris Smith and Pro...
Oct 10, 2023•1 hr 5 min•Season 1Ep. 220
New Guest Expert! On this week’s Aftermath, Rebecca speaks with Professor Matthew Solomon about the life, death and enduring legacy of history's most celebrated escape artist, Harry Houdini. Author of Disappearing Tricks: Silent Film, Houdini, and the New Magic of the Twentieth Century , Professor Solomon conjures the image of Houdini as a living myth of his time. A man defying all odds and doing the impossible until his shocking and untimely death. Afterward, Patreon Subscribers can tune in for...
Oct 05, 2023•29 min
Who’s to blame for the Death of Harry Houdini? This week, The Alarmist (Rebecca Delgado Smith) welcomes back comedian and magician Matt Donnelly (aka The Mind Noodler) to discuss the storied death of arguably the most legendary escape artist of all time, Harry Houdini. They’re joined by Producer Clayton Early. How did he die? Could the infamous punch to the gut have something to do with it? Was a secret death plot by the Spiritualists community to blame? Or maybe all that tempting fate finally c...
Oct 03, 2023•59 min•Season 1Ep. 219
New Guest Expert! On this week’s Aftermath, Rebecca follows up on all things Berlin Wall related with international affairs historian Dr. Susan Colbourn. Dr. Colbourn offers important insight on the state of the Soviet Union in a post war world and the infighting among the united allies well before the war came to an end. She also reminds us that history is littered with accidents. And the fall of the Berlin Wall is no exception. Afterward, Patreon Subscribers can join Rebecca and Producer Clayt...
Sep 28, 2023•32 min
