A listener episode! This week on Well, I Laughed we hear from someone who has first hand experience with the Word of Faith cult. AJ writes in with a story about accidentally ruining an adult friendship. One listener explores a home purchase that comes with more than they bargained for. And Jaymes dishes about life inside QAnon adjacent workplaces. All that and more this week! 00:00:00 Catch-Up 00:31:32 Stories starts
**Spoiler Alert** This week's episode is about people and their eccentricities. It is about nepotism and vengeance and fame. It is about how truly dramatic theater people can be. This week, a podcast about John Wilkes Booth. Who was the man who killed Lincoln? Why did Booth kill Lincoln? Who was John Wilkes Booth’s family? This week we look at Booth and Lincoln’s final act! 00:00:00 Catch-Up 00:25:59 Final Act
There are some who elevate their craft. Musicians, cooks, artists. In the world of modern beef battles one man reigns supreme. Why does 50 Cent hate P Diddy so much? Who knew about P Diddy's dark secrets and private life? This week, Maia gives us an entire podcast on P Diddy and 50 Cent. We might not be "Hot 97", but we're looking for answers. 00:00:00 Catch-Up 00:19:22 Rapped Up
Is QAnon a cult or a conspiracy theory? How did so many people get sucked into it? Why don't they leave? How does an online belief system become so prevalent so quickly? In the second part of this two-parter, Maia goes down the rabbit hole to investigate the origin of these beliefs, who Q could be, the effect of social media algorithms, and why it is still a danger in 2024. This week, on Well, I Laughed, we look through the lenses of family members of QAnon victims, ex-QAnon members, current QAn...
Who joins a cult? Why do people in cults stay? How can people in cults get out? This week, in the first of a two-part episode, Maia dives deep into the world of cults and conspiracy theories. From those centered around political utopias (like Dr. Janja Lalich, a victim of the Democratic Workers Party) to religious salvation (like those involved in the Word of Faith Fellowship run by Jane Whaley), Maia covers the stories of people who found themselves living in a cult, and how they found their wa...
A DB Cooper podcast as Grant takes on a true crime story! How does the only successful plane hijacker manage to slip away in the middle of the night with the law following right behind him? Where did he go? And where is the money. This week, on Well, I Laughed we cover the case of the unsolvable sky pirate! 00:00:00 Catch-Up 00:25:10 Sky Pirate
The listener episode! This week Gina talks gin, Alexis gets conned into housing a door-to-door ... vacuum salesman, Mary survives dating an Australian (kind of), and Dawn is shocked to be asked! Two anonymous listeners write in with their own stories. The first plays a game on their ex and the second breaks the heart of a hook up. All this and more, this week on Well, I Laughed! 00:00:00 Catch-Up 00:32:38 Stories start
An episode unlike any we've done before! Grant dives into the legacy of the "NSA leaker" Reality Winner. Her story, like that of so many we have covered on our show, is far more complicated and nuanced than meets the eye. In her journey we ask ourselves tough questions about patriotism and service to your country. Find out what makes this women, and this episode, so truly special. Winners and Losers, out now! 00:00:00 Catch-Up 00:24:46 Winners and Losers
Who was the man that tried to sell the Eiffel Tower? This week, Maia takes us on a podcast journey to the Titanic (well, ships like the Titanic) and a man who knew how to sell. No need to own anything with Victor Lustig around! Fake money machines, card games, property auction, or bribery. Victor Lustig was a man would always managed to hit his mark and slip the cops, until he couldn't. This week, on Well, I Laughed! 00:00:00 Catch-Up 00:40:24 Fool Me Twice
A special guest! Jacob, friend of the pod, join us with a special story. "Why did it rain blobs in Oakville?" That is a very good question. One we will attempt to answer, or at least speculate on. Either way we can promise you were are having a good time and, well, we laughed. Enjoy! 00:00:00 Catch-Up 00:35:16 Outside Oakville P.S. Maia had too much Elk Creek Water and mixed up Prokaryotic and Eukaryotic - Prokaryotes are the ones without mitochondria.
"What happened at the Dyatlov Pass?" Is one of the 20th centuries greatest historical mysteries. How could so many experienced, healthy, and prepared young people have passed away like they did? And perhaps even more pressing, what happened to their bodies? In this week's episode, Maia leads Grant throughout some of the theories of the Dyatlov Pass Incident. From the events leading up to the final night, to the fall out. Together, we explore this Soviet secret. Our longest episode yet and we ......
Want to know more about "badass women of history"? Before there was Joan of Arc, there was a Jeanne. Multiple Jeannes. Maybe actually too many Jeannes. Enter Jeanne de Clisson AKA "The Lioness of Brittany". A women who lived multiple lives, had multiple husbands, and one singular mission: the destruction of French King Phillip VI. Get on board with this killer queen of history (literally). The history mystery? Why do we not know more about Jeanne de Clisson. 00:00:00 Catch-Up 00:33:17 Mom Jeanne...
We hear from four listeners in this week’s listener episode! Hazel shares the story of a local man pushed too far. CJ talks about finding queer love in the South. Casey survives being the lover scorned herself. And Katie relives some classroom trauma from the best/work classroom we’ve ever heard of. Finally, Maia shares a Reddit AITA story to top off a hilarious episode from the Well, I Laughed listeners. 00:00:00 Catch-Up 00:16:34 Stories start
Who killed Walter Wanderwell? Grant introduces us to a cast of characters with way too many names. From the irreverent Nell Miller to the eccentric Walter Wanderwell to the odd Harriet White Fisher. The real scene stealer, in more ways than one, is Aloha Wanderwell. A women as unique to her time as her name. Travel the world. Love too much. Take pictures along the way, and get to know more about Aloha Wanderwell. 00:00:00 Catch-Up 00:20:20 Wanderlust
History podcast episode surprise from Maia! Learn more about the Kievan Rus, Vikings in the black sea, and a legendary Queen who murdered... for love. A women who might have inspired some of our favorite female villains today. Who was Queen Olga? How do you throw men into a hole? Are bathhouses flammable? And what can the Christian faith forgive, when you're helping drive up membership? A history comedy podcast episode, just for you! 00:00:00 Catch-Up 00:21:55 Heads Will Roll...
This week's listener episode features six stories and a whole lot of gossip from Grant and Maia. Stacy shares some all too relatable dating experiences. Mimi has a flashback to the infamous Lee episode in "Falsely Imprisoned". Jessica avoids the world’s worst first name. Gina talks about horsing around. And two teachers share tales from the classroom, one from Kayla the other anonymous (and for good reason). That and more, this week, from Well, I Laughed podcast! 00:00:00 Catch-Up 00:37:57 Stori...
What did Michael Barisone do? And how guilty is he? Maia introduces to famous horse trainer and Olympian Michael Barisone along with a cast of other characters, including Lauren Kanarek. A wild tale of competition, dramatic social media posts, and a crime that leaves us certain: this ranch ain't big enough for the both of us! 00:00:00 Catch-Up 00:29:08 Ranch Ain't Big Enough
Who was the Irish Hamilton? Richard Martin was a man of passion. He was just as likely to shoot you in a duel as he was to defend an innocent animal. Sometimes, he'd do both. Find out why was Richard Martin called "Humanity Dick", who founded the ASPCA, and how someone gets the nickname "Hair-Trigger Dick." A funny history podcast episode! 00:00:00 Catch-Up 00:25:25 D*ck of All Trades
A listener episode! Listeners of Well, I Laughed share their connections with this week's theme "Down to Business". Polly details an uncomfortably close connection with a man known as Dr. Death. Ashley emailed in about the dangers of donating blood in a story so funny, we almost passed out. Nicole writes in with a friend or foe, deal or no deal story about a high school romance gone wrong. And Warren shares about being the intimidating guy in the parking lot, completely accidentally. All that an...
Grant takes the opportunity to share some "weird stories from Australia." He introduces us to an underground, deadly underwater cave system in the middle of a cow field known as "The Shaft" in Australia. Next, he covers the disappearance of Harold Holt. The Australian Prime Minister (and spear fisher) who was abducted by aliens, eaten by a shark, or something way more normal and boring. Finally, we learn about what happens when you try to take on mother nature. Specifically, when you launch "The...
Was Mulan real? Did Mulan exist? And, if so, how accurate is the movie Mulan? This week we get down to business to uncover the history behind our favorite female warrior. Maia spotlights three extraordinary women whose boldness and brilliance helped reshape East Asian and global history: Tamoe Gozen, a Japanese Samurai from the 12th century, whose bravery and romances were featured in Heike monogatari (The Tale of Heike); Murasaki Shikibu, the author of what's thought of as the world's oldest no...
A listener episode! Listeners of Well, I Laughed share their connections with this week's theme "Friend or Foe". from a chilling backyard skeleton discovery and a spirit finally laid to rest, to a 5th-grade art prize snub that turned into a marriage proposal. You also shared enemies-to-lovers glow-ups, high school heartbreaks, and a museum specimen bag labeled “99.9% sure it’s a bat.” Plus: ketamine ER memories and a muddled theater-kid “Am I the Asshole?” that tests what it means to be a true f...
What happened to Laci Peterson, and did the media get it all wrong? In this deeply researched episode, Maia and Grant unpack one of the most polarizing true-crime cases of the early 2000s: the trial of Scott Peterson. Maia walks us through the mysterious circumstances and tragic death of Laci Peterson. We meet her husband Scott Peterson, learn his alibi, and end up with some serious open questions. What was the killer's motive? How does the media's portrayal of a case affect its outcome? How doe...
What is eco-terrorism and... is it all bad? In the 1990s the US government found out what happened when you anger young environmentalist and the power of positive reinforcement for things like sabotage. Grant covers who was the Earth Liberation Front (ELF) and the degree to which their crimes deserved the label "terrorist". Saviors of the planet, terrorist, or both? This week's episode of Well, I Laughed, we unpack the Earth Liberation Front (ELF), the FBI’s sweeping “Operation Backfire,” and wh...
Laugh, cringe, and question everything you thought was normal—this jam-packed listener episode has it all. Maia and Grant spiral through a whirlwind of chaos, comedy, and oddly relatable life hacks—starting with the brilliance of a “receiving hour” to curb messaging guilt. From there, it’s off to the gym: Maia recounts a cardio mishap that ends in a starfish-shaped crisis, while Grant shrugs his way through circuit anarchy. Nature talk includes a spiritual birdwatching moment atop Green Mountain...
Criminal justice, true crime, and the bonds of family all clash in today's podcast episode! It starts with a story we've heard before. An innocent man is convicted of a crime he did not commit. Facing life in prison few believe in his innocence or his chances to overturn his conviction. Fortunately, for his sister, this is a hill she is willing to die on. Learn who is Kenny Waters, who is Betty Anne Waters, and the power of a sibling with a little bit of fight. Trace how Kenny’s indomitable sist...
OUR ONE YEAR ANNIVERSARY! And a story as odd as any we've told. A potentially unsolved mystery. A podcast episode about a spooky (and at times hilarious) cryptid that takes us from the streets of London, to the Isle of Man, to the space between walls. You will not believe what the creature ends up being, or what is ends up saying. That is, if you believe the story at all. Depends on the hill you're willing to die on. Gef the Talking Mongoose AKA Jack the Talking Weasel AKA The Dalby Spook! They ...
Three true crime episodes in a set, well that's a first. The set, a Swedish Bank. The Players, Jan-Erik Olofsson, Sven, Sven, Maybe another Sven?, Kristen Enmark, Brigitta Lundblad, Elisabeth Oldgren, and Clark Olsson. Key events, The streets of Stockholm are swarmed as everyone wants to get in on the most exciting robbery of the summer. Bullets are fired, loves are forged, and Kaj Hansson makes a surprise call in NOT about the bees. The 1973 Stockholm bank siege that gave the world “Stockholm s...
Jump back into one of the greatest unsolved heists in history? In Part 2 of our deep dive into the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum theft, Grant and Maia pick up the story 48 hours after 13 masterpieces vanished—and the chaos really kicks in. From a scrapped smoke-bomb plan in the ’80s to Myles Connor’s audacious Rembrandt heists, they trace a tangled web of mobsters, shady art dealers, and maybe a few guards who weren’t as innocent as they seemed. Follow the trail through Boston’s underworld, me...
A true-crime episode! Grant takes us to Boston’s Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum and the night of the Gardner Museum Art Heist—the largest art robbery in modern history. We meet Myles Connor, Boston’s top art thief, wonder whether night guard Richard Abath was an unlucky bystander or an inside man, and learn about Isabella Stewart Gardner, the eccentric woman who built the museum and swore its layout must never change. All to get to the bottom of “the largest art heist in history.” But first, Gr...
