Midnight Facts for Insomniacs

After Midnight Livestream: The Top 5 Retail/Customer Service Pet Peeves (sample)

30 Apr 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Which would be in your top 5? Tell us in the Discord... ~ Become an Insomniac! Support the show on PATREON and unlock exclusive bonus content. ~ Join ...

Classic Tales of Revenge: John and Lorena Bobbitt

23 Apr 2026

Contributed by Lukas

A knife. A trial. A story that made the entire country cross its legs. In the early morning hours of June 23, 1993, Lorena Bobbitt swung an 8-inch kit...

After Midnight Livestream: The Five Most Nostalgic Video Games (Full)

16 Apr 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Which would be in your top 5? Tell us in the Discord... ~ Become an Insomniac! Support the show on PATREON and unlock exclusive bonus content. ~ Join ...

Livestream Host Swap: The History Of Pornography

09 Apr 2026

Contributed by Lukas

~ Become an Insomniac! Support the show on PATREON and unlock exclusive bonus content. ~ Join the community, chat with fellow insomniacs, and vote on ...

After Midnight Livestream: The Top 5 Songs Associated with Movies (sample)

02 Apr 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Which would be in your top 5? Tell us in the Discord... ~ Become an Insomniac! Support the show on PATREON and unlock exclusive bonus content. ~ Join ...

Bunnies, Eggs, and Ancient Math: The Real History of Easter

26 Mar 2026

Contributed by Lukas

The internet will tell you Easter was stolen from a pagan goddess. The internet is wrong. Join Shane and Duncan as they crack open the strange, surpri...

After Midnight Livestream: The Top 5 Most Annoying Personality Types (sample)

19 Mar 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Which would be in your top 5? Tell us in the Discord... ~ Become an Insomniac! Support the show on PATREON and unlock exclusive bonus content. ~ Join ...

Pirates, Snakes, and Shamrocks: The Real Story Behind Saint Patrick's Day

12 Mar 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Pirates. Snakes. Shamrocks. And the stomach-turning truth behind those green rivers... Saint Patrick’s Day is one of the world’s most recognizable...

Even More Box Office Bombs: Borderlands and The Marvels

26 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Hollywood promised spectacle. Audiences stayed home. In this fiscally irresponsible episode, Shane and Duncan return to the financial wreckage of mod...

After Midnight Livestream: The 5 Best and Worst Movie Couples (sample)

19 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Which would be in your top 5? Tell us in the Discord... ~ Support the show by becoming a Midnight Minion, Menace, or Maniac, and unlock exclusive bon...

More Box Office Bombs

12 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

They say lightning never strikes twice, but Hollywood keeps proving otherwise. In this budget-busting pair of episodes, Shane and Duncan return to the...

After Midnight: The Top Five Arguments Humans Will Never Settle (sample)

05 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Is Die Hard a Christmas movie? Have aliens visited the Earth? Is pineapple acceptable on pizza? Which would be in your top 5? Tell us in the Discord.....

Stone, Storm and Shadow: The Solar System, Part 2

29 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

In part two of their irreverent jaunt through the solar system, Shane and Duncan venture beyond the inner planets into the vast outer reaches, where s...

After Midnight Livestream: The Top 5 Careers (sample)

22 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Which would be in your top 5? Tell us in the Discord... ~ Support the show by becoming a Midnight Minion, Menace, or Maniac, and unlock exclusive bon...

Fire, Acid, and Ice: The Solar System, Part 1

15 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

The Sun is an unrelenting nuclear inferno. Mercury is a dense little rock with zero atmosphere and the worst sunburn in the system. Venus is a caution...

Livestream: The Top 5 Trends We Hope Will Cease To Exist In 2026 (sample)

08 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Which would be in your top 5? Tell us in the Discord... ~ Support the show by becoming a Midnight Minion, Menace, or Maniac, and unlock exclusive bon...

Midnight Mind Benders: Famous Paradoxes and Thought Experiments

01 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

This week, plunge with Shane and Duncan into the most maddening mental puzzles ever devised, from ancient identity crises and time travel nightmares t...

Christmas Bonus Episode! Livestream: Ranking the Top 5 Rob Reiner Films

25 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

RIP to a great director and an amazing human.   Which would be in your top 5? Tell us in the Discord... ~ Support the show by becoming a Midnight Mi...

The Pagan Origins of Christmas (Annual Re-release)

19 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

-Merry Christmas, insomniacs! Here's a blast from the past. We hope you're having an amazing holiday season- How is Santa Claus connected to cannibali...

The Pagan Origins of Christmas (Annual Re-release)

18 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Merry Christmas, insomniacs! Here's a blast from the past. We hope you're having an amazing holiday season.    How is Santa Claus connected to canni...

Year In Review: The Top 5 Most Notable Moments of 2025 (Livestream Sample)

11 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Which would be in your top 5? Tell us in the Discord... ~ Support the show by becoming a Midnight Minion, Menace, or Maniac, and unlock exclusive bon...

Year In Review: The Top 5 Most Notable Moments of 2025 (Livestream Sample)

11 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Which would be in your top 5? Tell us in the Discord... ~ Support the show by becoming a Midnight Minion, Menace, or Maniac, and unlock exclusive bon...

Full Livestream Episode: The Story of MFFI (Plus the History of Podcasting!)

04 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In this special live-streamed double-retrospective, Shane and Duncan trace the evolution of podcasting from its humble beginnings in the shadow of rad...

After Midnight Livestream: The 5 Best Aspects of Modern Technology (sample)

04 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Which would be in your top 5? Tell us in the Discord... ~ Access the entire back catalog of After Midnights, plus bonus episodes and video livestreams...

After Midnight Livestream: The 5 Worst Aspects of Modern Technology (sample)

27 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Which would be in your top 5? Tell us in the Discord... ~ Access the entire back catalog of After Midnights, plus bonus episodes and video livestreams...

The Explosive Origins of the Nobel Prize

20 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Alfred Nobel made a fortune inventing things that go boom, earning the nickname “merchant of death.” But with his own death approaching, he set ou...

After Midnight Livestream: The Top 5 Lifehacks (sample)

13 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Which would be in your top 5? Tell us in the Discord... ~ Access the entire back catalog of After Midnights, plus bonus episodes and video livestreams...

Host Swap: Witchcraft!

06 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In the first full-episode MFFI livestream, Duncan opens the spellbook on the roots of witchcraft and the modern movements keeping the magic alive. So ...

Copy, Paste, and Panic: The Story of Creepypasta

23 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In this chilling, thrilling, and revealing episode, MFFI explores the internet’s favorite collection of anonymous nightmares. From message boards to...

An Annual Tradition: The History of Halloween

09 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Back by popular demand (and dark ritual), this Halloween classic rises once more from the archives. Join Shane and Duncan for a deep dive into the str...

Size Matters: The Largest Structures Ever Built

25 Sep 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Some objects are built with purpose. Others are built with ego, ambition…and a total disregard for scale. In this gargantuan episode, Shane and Dunc...

The Wild, Weird History of the Guinness Book of World Records

11 Sep 2025

Contributed by Lukas

It began with a shotgun, a missed shot, and a very nerdy debate. In this record-breaking episode, Shane and Duncan track the origins of the Guinness ...

After Midnight Livestream: The Top 5 Most Underrated Movies of All Time (sample)

04 Sep 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Which would be in your top 5? Tell us in the Discord... ~ Access the entire back catalog of After Midnights, plus bonus episodes and video livestreams...

Obsessed and Possessed: A Guide to the World’s Weirdest Collections

28 Aug 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Some people collect coins. Others collect vomit bags, ventriloquist dummies, and an unsettling number of preserved penises. In this bizarrely specif...

Livestream Mailbag Episode!

21 Aug 2025

Contributed by Lukas

~ Support the show by becoming a Midnight Minion, Menace, or Maniac, and unlock exclusive bonus content over at PATREON ~ Chat with fellow insomniac...

Celebrity Rivalries: The Late Night Wars (Conan vs. Leno vs. Letterman)

14 Aug 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Behind the desk, it was all smiles. Behind the scenes? Bloodbath. This week, the gloves are off as Midnight Facts for Insomniacs dives into one of the...

Chaos, Criminals, and Coldplay: CEO Scandals from Andy Byron to Harvey Weinstein

31 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

What do a disgraced pizza mogul, a Hollywood predator, a fugitive auto exec, and a guy who accidentally triggered a PR meltdown from a Coldplay Jumbot...

After Midnight Livestream Feat. Alfred Banks - The Top 5 Animals We'd Bring Back From Extinction (sample)

24 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Which would be in your top 5? Tell us in the Discord... ~ Access the entire back catalog of After Midnights, plus bonus episodes and video livestreams...

The World's Weirdest Festivals

17 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Every culture has traditions. Some honor the dead. Some feed the local monkey population. Some involve grown men in devil costumes leaping over rows o...

Grigori Rasputin: Murder, Mysticism, and the Fall of the House of Romanov

03 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Grigori Rasputin was many things: a wandering mystic, a spiritual advisor to the Russian royal family, and according to persistent rumors, extremely d...

The Zizian Cult, Part Two: Meat is Murder, and So Are We

19 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

The first episode covered the origins; now it’s time for the bloodbath. In part two of the Zizian cult series, Shane and Duncan unpack the chilling ...

A modern vegan Sith-Lord murder-cult: the Zizians (Part 1)

06 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

They preached compassion, practiced anarchy, and packed a samurai sword. In this episode, Shane and Duncan uncover the bizarre rise and explosive down...

Midnight Menagerie: Nocturnal Animals

22 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

From creatures that soar through moonlit skies with uncanny precision to those that hunt the forest in utter darkness, discover the fascinating adapta...

Altered States: A Brief History of Psychedelics

08 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Join Shane and Duncan for a journey through the kaleidoscopic world of psychedelics... Psilocybin (magic mushrooms), MDMA (ecstasy/molly), and LSD (ac...

Workplace Wreckage: Stories of Industrial Catastrophe

24 Apr 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Sometimes the most dangerous place to be is on the clock. This week, Shane and Duncan explore workplace events so disastrous that they reshaped indust...

Blood, Sharks, and Sandstone: More Incredible Stories of Survival Against the Odds

10 Apr 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Surviving a plane crash is one thing, but cutting off your own arm to escape a boulder? Whole different level. In this follow-up episode, Shane and Du...

Harrowing True Stories of Wilderness Survival

27 Mar 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Stranded in the Andes. Lost in the jungle. Trapped in the desert with nothing but a questionable grasp of hydration. History is packed with jaw-droppi...

Trenches, Tactics, and Total Chaos: World War I Explained

13 Mar 2025

Contributed by Lukas

It was the war to end all wars…until it wasn’t. In 1914, a tangled mess of alliances, ancient grudges, and questionable facial hair decisions erup...

Shane Goes Rogue! The History of Boxing

27 Feb 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Gloves on, mouthguards in—this week, Shane and Duncan are stepping into the ring to throw hands with the Sweet Science. How did a sport that started...

The Greatest Unsolved Internet Mystery: Cicada 3301

13 Feb 2025

Contributed by Lukas

For years, an enigmatic online puzzle known as Cicada 3301 has baffled cryptographers, hackers, and conspiracy theorists alike. Was it a recruitment t...

The History and Psychology of Gambling

30 Jan 2025

Contributed by Lukas

From ancient dice games to high-tech slot machines, the allure of risk and reward has shaped human behavior for centuries. In this high-rolling episod...

The History and Evolution of Cats

16 Jan 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Join Shane and Duncan as they dig their claws into the captivating history and evolution of our feline friends. From the revered temple cats of ancien...

Useless Technology (Throwback Encore)

09 Jan 2025

Contributed by Lukas

From umbrellas that distribute rain to radios that print the news, here are the most useless pieces of technology ever foisted an unsuspecting public....

The Origins of Common Idioms, Phrases, and Figures of Speech (Redux)

02 Jan 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Have you ever wondered why we "turn a blind eye," "pull out all the stops," or "fly off the handle"? In this episode, Shane and Duncan dive into the q...

Encore: The Pagan Origins of Christmas

25 Dec 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Merry Christmas, insomniacs! Here's a blast from the past. We hope you're having an amazing holiday season.    How is Santa Claus connected to cann...

Jehovah's Witnesses: A Modern Evangelical Doomsday Cult

19 Dec 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Crack open the door on one of the world’s most intriguing and controversial faiths: The Jehovah’s Witnesses. Despite requiring members to give up...

The Reckoning: Charles Manson and The Helter Skelter Murders (Part 3)

05 Dec 2024

Contributed by Lukas

PART 3! In this final topic of spooky season, unravel the sinister saga of the Manson Family and the pint-sized puppet master who convinced his follo...

The Devil's Work: Charles Manson and the Helter Skelter Murders (Part 2)

21 Nov 2024

Contributed by Lukas

PART 2! In this final topic of spooky season, unravel the sinister saga of the Manson Family and the pint-sized puppet master who convinced his follo...

ENCORE: The (Original) Darwin Awards

14 Nov 2024

Contributed by Lukas

ENCORE! Shane needed a break, but we'll be back with a regular episode next week. In the meantime, if you need to chat or decompress, join our Discor...

SHOW SWAP! AHC - Bonnie and Clyde

07 Nov 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Hey Insomniacs, we have something very special for you today. We're bringing you an episode of one of our favorite podcasts! AHC (Asshole Court) is a...

Cult of Personality: Charles Manson and the Helter Skelter Murders (Part 1)

31 Oct 2024

Contributed by Lukas

In this final topic of spooky season, unravel the sinister saga of the Manson Family and the pint-sized puppet master who convinced his followers that...

[Throwback Encore] We Are Legion: Exorcism and Demonic Possession

24 Oct 2024

Contributed by Lukas

BEGONE, FOUL DEMON!! NO LONGER SHALL YOU BEDEVIL THE INSOMNIACS OF THE MIDNIGHT MASSES (Apologies for the caps lock, but Satan doesn't respect lowerca...

Jack the Ripper: History's Most Notorious Serial Killer

17 Oct 2024

Contributed by Lukas

In the shadowy alleys of Victorian London, a sinister figure lurked, leaving a trail of terror that has baffled historians for over a century. Join Sh...

Encore: The Fiery, Pagan History of Halloween

10 Oct 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Why do we wear costumes on Halloween? When did pumpkins and candy get involved? And how the heck do you pronounce "Samhain"? Listen to find out... ~ J...

Madness and Mythos: The Legacy of H.P. Lovecraft

03 Oct 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Welcome, insomniacs, to another dive into the weird, the wild, and the wonderfully unsettling. Tonight, we’re exploring the twisted mind behind some...

The NEW 7 Wonders of the World

19 Sep 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Get ready to embark on a globe-trotting journey through time and across continents to uncover the secrets of the New Seven Wonders of the World. From...

The 7 Wonders of the Ancient World

05 Sep 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Prepare for a silly, whirlwind tour of the most epic bucket list in history: the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. From engineering feats that defie...

Extreme Prisons: From "Squirrel Cage" to Camp 14

22 Aug 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Unlock the gates to some of the most bizarre and extreme prisons on Earth. From the rotating madness of “squirrel cage” jails to a Norwegian islan...

Technology Disasters: From Boeing to CrowdStrike

08 Aug 2024

Contributed by Lukas

In our high-tech interconnected world, a single software glitch can spiral into global disaster. Tune in this week to discover the hidden stories, the...

After Midnight with Alfred Banks: The Top 5 Animated Series of All Time

01 Aug 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Rapper/artist Alfred Banks joins the show to debate the 5 greatest animated TV series of all time! Check out Alfred and his recent project SaxKixAve H...

The Devil's Rope: How Barbed Wire Tamed the West

25 Jul 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Prepare to unravel the twisted history of "The Devil's Rope,” and discover how a simple invention sparked fierce conflicts that transformed the Amer...

Video Game Scandals: From Hot Coffee To Gamergate

11 Jul 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Join Shane and Duncan as they expose a trio of scandals that rocked the gaming community. From the hidden sex scene that transformed a popular game i...

Invasive Species: Claws, Tusks, and Karmic Retribution

27 Jun 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Well if it isn’t the consequences of our actions. The spread of humans around the globe has accidentally—and sometimes intentionally—led to the...

The Pulse-Pounding History of Rollercoasters and Theme Parks

13 Jun 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Get ready to plunge into the adrenaline-pumping history of roller coasters, amusement parks, and theme parks. From ancient Russian ice slides to the s...

Deadly Viral Trends and Challenges

30 May 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Join Shane and Duncan as they venture into the dark and baffling world of dangerous viral trends. From laundry detergent consumption to milk-crate bal...

From Chernobyl to the Amazon: The World’s Creepiest Ghost Towns

16 May 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Prepare for an eerie, unsettling journey through the silent streets of the world’s abandoned ghost towns. From a city frozen in time by the Chernoby...

The Wild World of P.E.T.A

02 May 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Where is the line between activism and extremism? In this furry, feathered, fanged episode, MFFI tackles one of the most divisive and controversial or...

The Scandalous, Grifting History of Megachurches

18 Apr 2024

Contributed by Lukas

In today’s supersized praise-worthy episode, MFFI uncovers the scandalous stories behind the rise of megachurches and explains how a few ambitious, ...

Host Swap: The History of War Games and D&D

04 Apr 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Duncan takes the reins! It's been a long time coming, but another host swap episode is finally here. This week Duncan officially ran out of excuses an...

Wizards, Dragons, and White Supremacy: The Ku Klux Klan

21 Mar 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Here there be dragons! But not the fun kind… How are wizards, ghouls, and dragons connected to the civil war? What does “AYAK” stand for? And wh...

The Darwin Awards: 2000s Edition

07 Mar 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Back by popular demand, and dumber than ever: The Darwin Awards. One of MFFI's most popular episode topics returns, this time with a modern twist... ...

Prison Breaks: Alcatraz and El Chapo

22 Feb 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Unlock gripping true stories that defy the confines of steel and stone in this tunneling, plotting, unshackled episode of MFFI.   ~ In this episode: ...

Black Holes: Time-Warping Cosmic Paradoxes

08 Feb 2024

Contributed by Lukas

How powerful is a singularity? Can anything escape from an event horizon? Do black holes “suck”? Dive into the cosmic shadows with Shane and Dunc...

Decoding Blood: The History of Genetics and DNA Profiling (Forensics Part 2)

25 Jan 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Follow Shane and Duncan along the twists and turns of the double helix as they unravel the history of genetics and DNA profiling. From Watson and Cric...

Blood, Sweat, Fingerprints and Tears: Forensic Science

11 Jan 2024

Contributed by Lukas

What do blood, sweat, tears, and fingerprints have in common? They can all be used to solve crimes. In this episode of Midnight Facts for Insomniacs, ...

Famous Ships Lost at Sea

28 Dec 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Which nautical tragedy represents the largest loss of life in non-combat American Navy history? Are there any undiscovered shipwrecks in American lake...

Native American Mythology

14 Dec 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Join Shane and Duncan as they attempt to navigate the sensitive topic of Native American mythology, exploring the elusive world of talking coyotes, gi...

Bonus Re-Release: The Pagan Origins of Christmas

07 Dec 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Christmas comes early this year with the bonus re-release of one of our favorite episodes exploring the strange, pagan, occasionally twisted origins o...

Gunpowder, Treason, Masks, and Plot: The Legend of Guy Fawkes

30 Nov 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Join Shane and Duncan for an explosive tale of political intrigue, religious fervor, and a daring conspiracy that could have reshaped an entire nation...

ScamFluencers Part Two: The Worst of the Worst

16 Nov 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Last episode was just a warm-up. Swindle month continues, this time with actual influencers! These are the worst of the worst… ~ In this episode:  ...

ScamFluencers: Social Media Grifters and Con Artists

02 Nov 2023

Contributed by Lukas

The internet is a dangerous place. Hold onto your wallet as MFFI takes you on a scamtastic tour of two of the most notorious online swindles of the la...

Legendary ”Cursed” Objects

19 Oct 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Spooky season continues! A car that killed a star. A haunted doll. A vindictive painting. Are any of these items genuinely cursed? Not a chance.  But...

True, Creepy, Unsolved Mysteries

05 Oct 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Spooky season has arrived! Join Shane and Duncan for a trio of mind-bending mysteries: first, venture into the frozen enigma of Dyatlov Pass, then wan...

Useless Technology

21 Sep 2023

Contributed by Lukas

From umbrellas that distribute rain to radios that print the news, here are the most useless pieces of technology ever foisted an unsuspecting public....

The History and Origin of Names

07 Sep 2023

Contributed by Lukas

What's in a name? A lot, actually. Names are more than just labels; they carry meanings, stories, and histories that reveal our origins, cultures, and...

*Full Episode* After Midnight with Alfred Banks: The Top 5 Desert Island Movies

31 Aug 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Rapper, producer, all-around entertainment dynamo, and long-time member of the midnight masses Alfred Banks joins Shane and Duncan this week to gener...

Scandals, Sports Edition: From Black Sox to Sex Boats

24 Aug 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Hey insomniacs, get ready to peel back the astroturf on sports scandals that are as cautionary as they are captivating. In this episode you'll learn a...

Extreme Exploration, Space Edition: From Nazi Rockets to the Falcon 9

10 Aug 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Strap in and prepare for liftoff as Shane and Duncan take you on a jet-fueled ride through the history of space exploration. From the Nazi origins of ...

Extreme Exploration, Ocean Edition: from Reed Rafts to the Titan Submersible

27 Jul 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Why did humans first venture into the dark and mysterious depths of the ocean? What discoveries and dangers did they encounter along the way? And how ...

Strange and Unique Sports

13 Jul 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Prepare yourself for a wild ride, insomniacs, because we're diving headfirst into the realm of quirky sports, where ancient traditions meet bizarre mo...