Long before viral hoaxes and deep fakes, there was the Cardiff Giant — a ten-foot stone "man" unearthed from a New York farm that had people lining up (and paying admission) to gawk at what they believed was a biblical relic or a fossilized ancient. It was neither. It was gypsum, a con man's imagination, and America's gift for believing exactly what it wants to. We dig into the hoax, the man behind it, and the P.T. Barnum plot twist you didn't see coming.

• https://www.farmersmuseum.org/cardiff-giant/

• https://historymatters.gmu.edu/d/5824/

• https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/the-cardiff-giant-one-of-historys-most-famous-hoaxes-72691312/

• https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/cardiff-giant

• https://www.britannica.com/topic/Cardiff-Giant

• https://www.history.com/articles/cardiff-giant-hoax

• https://www.nysm.nysed.gov/exhibitions/ongoing/cardiff-giant

• https://archive.org/details/cardiffgiant00newy

• https://books.google.com/books?id=Qb4DAAAAYAAJ (contemporary 19th-century accounts)

• https://www.loc.gov/collections/chronicling-america/ (period newspaper coverage)

• History – The Cardiff Giant Fools the Nation

• Readex – The Tallest of the Tall Tales

• The Cardiff Giant reference overview

• History: The Cardiff Giant Fools the Nation, 145 Years Ago.

• Live Science: Cardiff Giant: "America's Biggest Hoax."

• JSTOR Daily: The Cardiff Giant: The Biggest Hoax of the 19th Century.

• Central New York History: Today in History: The Cardiff Giant.

This week on Champagne and Murder, Please, we're leaving the world of serial killers behind and stepping into two mysteries that still refuse to die.

First, we're heading to the banks of the Little Miami River in Loveland, Ohio, where terrified witnesses claim they came face-to-face with a creature that looked more like something out of a fever dream than reality. Standing several feet tall, covered in leathery skin, and sporting unmistakably frog-like features, the Loveland Frogman has spent decades hopping between local legend, police reports, and cryptid lore. Is it just another case of mistaken identity... or has something strange really been hiding in the shadows all along?

Then we're traveling back to the summer of 1944 in Mattoon, Illinois, where ordinary families began waking in the middle of the night unable to move, overcome by a mysterious sweet-smelling gas that seemed to drift through open windows before vanishing without a trace. Panic swept through the town as more reports poured in, newspapers fueled the hysteria, and a phantom attacker became one of America's most bizarre unsolved mysteries. Was the Mad Gasser a real criminal, an industrial accident, mass hysteria, or something even stranger?

Pour yourself a glass of champagne, lock your windows, and maybe don't trust anything croaking at you from the dark. Because this week, we're diving into one legendary cryptid and one unexplained panic that continues to haunt the Midwest decades later.

As always, we'll sprinkle in a little history, a lot of speculation, and just enough sarcasm to get us through another unforgettable night.

https://www.lovelandfrog.com/

https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/the-loveland-frog-legend-180981453/

https://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/loveland-frogman

https://www.cincinnati.com/story/news/2023/03/03/loveland-frogman-ohio-cryptid-legend-explained/69961627007/

https://www.newspapers.com/

https://www.ohiomagazine.com/travel/article/the-loveland-frogman-legend

https://www.wvxu.org/local-news/2023-03-03/loveland-frogman-ohio-legend-history-cryptid

https://www.history.com/news/mad-gasser-of-mattoon-illinois

https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/the-mad-gasser-of-mattoon-180979675/

https://www.newspapers.com

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mad_Gasser_of_Mattoon

https://www.americanhauntingsink.com/madgasser

https://www.jstor.org/stable/40168543

This week on Champagne and Murder, Please, we're diving into three devastating explosions that transformed celebrations into nightmares.

First, we travel back to the 1905 fireworks tragedy that shocked the nation and helped usher in stricter regulations and safety standards that still influence fireworks displays today. One terrible night proved that a few sparks could change an entire industry.

Then, things take an unexpected turn as we investigate the bizarre and deadly worm farm explosion in Benton, Tennessee. What sounds like the beginning of a dark joke became a very real disaster that left a community searching for answers.

Finally, we head to California to examine the Simi Valley fireworks catastrophe, a modern reminder that even with regulations and experience, fireworks remain as unpredictable as they are beautiful.

Pour yourself a glass, settle in, and join us as we explore three stories where celebration met catastrophe, and where the echoes of a single explosion reshaped laws, communities, and lives forever.

Stay safe, and don't take candy from strangers.

Library of Congress Newspaper Archive on the Brockton Fireworks Disaster

Massachusetts State Fire Marshal History Resources

Consumer Product Safety Commission: History of U.S. Fireworks Regulations

The Washington Post: "Blast at Fireworks Factory Kills 11"

Wikipedia: Benton Fireworks Disaster

The Cleveland Daily Banner Archives

Los Angeles Times: Investigation Finds Faulty Shell Caused Simi Valley Disaster

CBS Los Angeles: 28 People Injured During Fireworks Mishap in Simi Valley

The Week: Watch the Simi Valley Fireworks Disaster

The American frontier was supposed to be a land of opportunity, but for dozens of unlucky travelers passing through southeastern Kansas in the 1870s, it became their final destination.

This week on Champagne and Murder, Please, we're diving into one of the most disturbing cases in American history: the story of the Bloody Benders. To weary travelers, the Bender family appeared to be ordinary homesteaders running a small inn and general store on the edge of the prairie. But behind a simple canvas curtain lurked a nightmare.

As settlers, drifters, and businessmen disappeared along the Osage Trail, rumors spread across the growing frontier. What investigators eventually uncovered beneath the Benders' property shocked an entire nation and cemented the family’s place in true crime history as what many consider America's first family of serial killers.

We'll unravel the enduring mystery that remains unsolved more than 150 years later: what happened to the Bloody Benders after they vanished without a trace?

Pour yourself a glass of something bubbly and join us as we step into one of the darkest corners of the Old West.

https://www.kshs.org

https://labettecountyhistory.com

https://www.smithsonianmag.com

https://www.loc.gov

https://www.nps.gov

This week, Brittany and Vanessa take a heartbreaking journey through two cases that continue to haunt the people who know their stories.

First, we travel to rural Ontario to discuss the murder of nine-year-old Christine Jessop, a bright little girl whose disappearance in 1984 devastated her family and shocked an entire nation. What followed was a decades-long fight for justice filled with wrongful accusations, investigative failures, and a truth that would remain hidden for nearly forty years.

Then we step back into the late 1800s to examine one of America's most infamous unsolved murders: the case of Pearl Bryan. Young, educated, and full of promise, Pearl's life ended in a crime so shocking that it sparked headlines across the country and inspired legends that still linger more than a century later. From a secret romance to a gruesome discovery and a mystery that refuses to die, Pearl's story remains one of the most disturbing cases in true crime history.

Two victims. Two different centuries. Two families forever changed.

Pour a glass, settle in, and join us as we uncover the lives behind the headlines.

Trigger Warning: This episode contains discussions of child murder, violence against women, dismemberment, wrongful conviction, and other disturbing content that may not be suitable for all listeners.

Until we speak to you again, stay safe... and don't take candy from strangers.

https://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2020/10/15/the-christine-jessop-case-a-timeline-of-one-of-canadas-most-notorious-unsolved-murders.html

https://www.investigationdiscovery.com/crimefeed/murder/how-the-christine-jessop-murder-case-sparked-justice-system-reform-in-canada

https://globalnews.ca/news/7398765/christine-jessop-case-calvin-hoover/

https://innocencecanada.com/exonerations/guy-paul-morin/

https://www.trace-evidence.com/christine-jessop

https://www.theglobeandmail.com/canada/article-christine-jessops-brother-says-he-finally-has-answers-after-36/

https://toronto.ctvnews.ca/how-a-family-tree-helped-police-identify-the-man-they-believe-killed-9-year-old-christine-jessop-1.5146876

Jackson v. Commonwealth case summary

Kentucky Court of Appeals case text for Jackson v. Commonwealth

Historical overview of the Pearl Bryan murder case

NKY Tribune article on Pearl Bryan and Gilded Age scandal culture

Discussion and historical theories surrounding Pearl Bryan’s missing head

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Murder_of_Pearl_Bryan

Pour yourself a glass and settle in, because this week we're heading to Ohio for two cases that left entire communities searching for answers.

First, we're diving into the Pike County Massacre, one of the most shocking family murder cases in modern American history. In April 2016, eight members of the Rhoden family were found murdered across multiple crime scenes in rural Pike County, Ohio. As investigators unraveled the mystery, they uncovered a tangled web of custody disputes, family feuds, control, and secrets that would ultimately point to an entire family willing to do the unthinkable.

Then we're shifting gears to the controversial case of Mackenzie Shirilla. What began as a teenage love story ended in a devastating crash that killed two young men and sparked a national debate: was it a tragic accident, reckless driving, or something far more intentional? We'll walk through the evidence, the trial, and the questions that continue to divide public opinion.

Two Ohio cases. Ten lives lost. Countless questions left behind.

Grab your champagne, and let's talk murder.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pike_County_shootings

https://www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2022/11/30/rhoden-family-killing-verdict/

https://www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2022/12/19/rhoden-family-ohio-murders-sentencing-wagner/

https://www.cleveland19.com/2026/04/21/pike-county-massacre-10-years-later-one-trial-remains-family-murder-case/

https://apnews.com/article/726d2a73502d1a3e2c6ea6bec4ec726c

https://apnews.com/article/0ed638df1a9731fb8a35c2561b6d5dff

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=izeSkD64N_0

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jQOopCxrwpE

• https://www.supremecourt.ohio.gov/rod/docs/pdf/8/2025/2025-Ohio-334.pdf
• https://www.cleveland.com/news/2023/08/mackenzie-shirilla-found-guilty-of-murder-in-crash-that-killed-boyfriend-friend.html
• https://www.cleveland.com/news/2023/08/mackenzie-shirilla-sentenced-to-life-in-prison-for-murdering-boyfriend-friend-in-crash.html
• https://www.wkyc.com/article/news/local/cuyahoga-county/mackenzie-shirilla-trial-strongsville-crash-boyfriend-friend-killed/95-7d9d4f52-07e5-4f94-9bca-c35a00dd3f9c
• https://www.news5cleveland.com/news/local-news/i-team/appeals-court-upholds-mackenzie-shirillas-conviction-for-strongsville-crash-that-killed-two
• https://www.netflix.com/title/81763177
• https://www.cbsnews.com/news/mackenzie-shirilla-ohio-teen-sentenced-life-prison-deadly-crash-boyfriend-friend/

For more than 200 years, people have been telling the story of the Bell Witch.

It is a tale filled with strange voices in the dark, unexplained knocks on cabin walls, whispered threats, family tragedy, and a mysterious entity that seemed determined to make itself known. Over time, the story grew from a local Tennessee legend into one of the most famous hauntings in American folklore.

This week, we're pouring a glass and stepping back into the early 1800s to walk through the story of the Bell family and the spirit said to have haunted them. From the first unsettling encounters to the moments that turned the haunting into legend, we'll explore the people, places, and events that have kept this story alive for generations.

Rather than telling you what to believe, we're inviting you into the story itself—the history, the folklore, the eyewitness accounts, and the mysteries that continue to spark debate more than two centuries later.

Was it a spirit? A curse? Something we still don't understand? Or simply a story that grew larger with each retelling?

We'll leave that for you to decide.

So dim the lights, settle in, and join us as we journey into one of the most famous supernatural legends in American history: The Bell Witch.

https://archive.org/details/authenticatedhis00ingrhttps://tnency.utk.tennessee.edu/entries/bell-witch/https://www.bellwitchcave.comhttps://www.encyclopedia.com/science/encyclopedias-almanacs-transcripts-and-maps/bell-witchhttps://skeptoid.com/episodes/4081https://tennesseeencyclopedia.net

This week, we’re diving headfirst into icy northern waters and then immediately making the mistake of wandering into a cave in the English countryside because apparently we learn nothing.

First, we’re talking about Selkies — the haunting seal-folk of Scottish and Irish folklore who slip out of their skins to become human on land. Beautiful, tragic, mysterious… and usually one missing sealskin away from a deeply questionable marriage arrangement. We’re unpacking the folklore, the heartbreak, the possessiveness, and why so many of these stories feel less like fairytales and more like warnings wrapped in sea salt.

Then we leave the shoreline behind and head into the dark woods of Leicestershire to meet Black Annis, the blue-faced hag said to live in a cave carved into the hillside with her own iron claws. She allegedly wore human skin, hunted children, terrified entire villages, and honestly sounds like the physical manifestation of “don’t stay out after dark.” But as always, the deeper we dig, the weirder it gets. Pagan remnants? Anti-woman propaganda? A distorted memory of older goddesses? We’re pulling apart the legend piece by bloody piece.

So pour yourself something bubbly, lock the windows, and maybe don’t trust anyone offering you a sealskin coat.

This episode contains folklore involving child death, violence, abduction themes, and general nightmare fuel.

Folklore Scotland – Selkie Folklore Overview

Orkneyjar – The Selkie Folk of Orkney

The University of Edinburgh – Northern Isles Folklore Archives

The Folklore Podcast – Selkie Traditions and Mythology

Smithsonian Magazine – The Enduring Mystery of Selkie Legends

Historic Environment Scotland – Folklore and Coastal Traditions

British Library – Scottish Oral Traditions and Folklore Collections

The Secret of Roan Inish Official Information

Song of the Sea Official Film Website

JSTOR Daily – Folklore, Identity, and Selkie Mythology

The School of Scottish Studies Archives

https://www.le.ac.uk/lahs/downloads/1969/1969%20(45)%201-20%20Hartley.pdf https://www.leicestershirevillages.com/dane-hills-black-annis.html https://www.historic-uk.com/CultureUK/Black-Annis/ https://www.mysteriousbritain.co.uk/england/leicestershire/folklore/black-annis.html https://www.bl.uk/collection-items/black-annis https://www.folklore.ee/folklore/vol31/ennis.pdf

This week, we’re stepping into the kind of folklore that feels like it was whispered through a candle flame at 2 a.m.

First, we unravel the story of Tatterhood, the strange and feral heroine from Scandinavian folklore who rides through the night on a goat with a wooden spoon in hand, fighting off curses, trolls, and the general inconvenience of being the only competent person in the kingdom. She’s messy, loud, unapologetic, and honestly? A bit of an icon.

Then we travel into darker territory with the story of Ashtabai, where legend and fear begin bleeding together. A tale wrapped in whispers, unease, and the kind of haunting energy that lingers long after the story ends. Some stories feel polished over time. This one still has teeth.

So pour yourself something bubbly, lock the doors that creak for no reason, and settle in for an episode filled with folklore, feminine rage, unsettling legends, and the ancient realization that maybe the “weird girl” was right the whole time.

Champagne & Murder, Please is open for business. 🍾✨

Sources & Further Reading:
• Tatterhood Folktale Archive Version
• Tatterhood Background & Analysis
• Ashtabai Discussion & Folklore References

 https://sites.pitt.edu/~dash/type0711.html https://www.worldoftales.com/European_folktales/Norwegian_folktale_12.html https://folklorethursday.com/folktales/tatterhood-the-wild-princess-of-norway/ https://www.britannica.com/biography/Peter-Christen-Asbjornsen https://www.britannica.com/biography/Jorgen-Engebretsen-Moe https://www.norwegianamerican.com/norwegian-folktales-live-on/ https://www.theguardian.com/books/booksblog/2012/oct/15/fairy-tales-tatterhood https://digitalcommons.wayne.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1168&context=honorstheses https://www.pookpress.co.uk/project/tatterhood-norwegian-fairy-tale/https://www.speakingtree.in/allslides/mysterious-ghosts-and-spirits-of-india https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/travel/destinations/most-haunted-places-in-india/as67346079.cms https://www.indiatimes.com/trending/social-relevance/real-life-horror-stories-from-india-353841.html https://www.reddit.com/r/Paranormal/ https://www.jstor.org/ (search: chudail, South Asian female spirits folklore) https://www.britannica.com/topic/folklore

This week on Champagne and Murder, Please... we’re heading back to the muddy marshes and whispered grudges of colonial Grace Sherwood.

A woman who knew herbs. A neighbor feud that spiraled like smoke through chimney cracks. A trial that involved ducking, gossip, livestock accusations, and an entire town practically foaming at the mouth over butter, curses, and bad luck. Because apparently in the early 1700s, if your crops died and your ale tasted weird, it was definitely your hot independent neighbor’s fault.

But beneath the legend of “The Witch of Pungo” is something far darker and far more human: fear, isolation, survival, and the terrifying power of being labeled different.

We’re unpacking the folklore, the facts, the petty colonial drama, and the story of the only woman in Virginia ever convicted of witchcraft. So pour yourself something bubbly, light a candle that smells vaguely haunted, and settle in... because this episode feels like wet moss, candle soot, and accusations whispered through crooked teeth.

Encyclopedia Virginia: Grace Sherwood

Virginia Museum of History & Culture: Grace Sherwood

City of Virginia Beach: Grace Sherwood History

Smithsonian Magazine: America’s Last Convicted Witch