Lizzie Halliday has left a trail of destruction behind her...arson, theft, fraud, and at least one suspicious death! But in this episode, her crimes take a truly horrifying turn. After a year in a mental institution, Lizzie is released back into the care of her much older husband, Paul Halliday. His family and neighbors are already wary of her, and with good reason. Fires, violent outbursts, and unexplained disappearances follow wherever Lizzie goes.

When Paul vanishes without a trace, his family and neighbors start asking questions. The authorities arrive at the farm to search for him, but what they uncover is far worse than anyone imagined. And Paul? He isn’t the only one missing.

Listen now on your favorite podcast app. #FreshHellPodcast

Lizzie Halliday, serial killer, true crime, historical crime, 19th-century crime, female killers, New York murders, arson, horse theft, con artist, insurance fraud, Paul Halliday, missing persons, farm murder, asylum escape, violent outbursts, hidden bodies, Fresh Hell Podcast

Lizzie Halliday is back, and somehow, she’s only getting started. In this episode, we pick up where we left off—with Lizzie abandoning another husband, scamming her way into new homes, and setting literal fires along the way. She takes her insurance fraud scheme to new levels, makes a scene at her father’s grave, and leaves a path of destruction across the Northeast. Meanwhile, a traveling peddler is found murdered in the Shawangunk Mountains, and Lizzie starts spending time with a new crowd. By the time she crosses paths with Paul Halliday, her next husband and soon-to-be victim, things are about to get much, much worse.

Lizzie Halliday, serial killer, true crime, 19th-century crime, female killers, historical murder, New York crime, arson, insurance fraud, con artist, scammer, peddler murder, Shawangunk Mountains, Romani history, Paul Halliday, Philadelphia fire, prison escape, Fresh Hell Podcast

Lizzie Halliday is often called America’s first female serial killer, but long before she made headlines, she was already leaving a trail of chaos behind her. In this episode, we look at her early years—from her family’s immigration from Ireland to her first marriages and the, let’s say, unfortunate fates of the men in her life. Lizzie had a habit of marrying quickly, fighting dirty, and possibly poisoning anyone who got in her way. With lawsuits, accusations, and more than a few suspicious deaths, it’s clear that Lizzie was not your average 19th-century housewife.

Lizzie Halliday, serial killer, true crime, 19th-century crime, historical murder, female killers, New York history, Irish immigrants, Victorian crime, marriage scams, arsenic, Nellie Bly, Fresh Hell Podcast

In this episode of Fresh Hell, we’re heading up to the remote and brutal heights of the Säntis mountain in Switzerland, where, in February 1922, Heinrich and Magdalena Haas were found murdered in their isolated weather station. Their killer? A man they knew, a man who had once wanted Heinrich’s job, and a man who decided to settle his grudge in the most violent way possible.

Säntis double murder, Gregor Kreuzpointner, Heinrich Haas, Magdalena Haas, 1922 murder, Swiss true crime, historical crime, mountain murder, jealousy and revenge, Swiss mystery, double homicide, Säntis weather station, true crime podcast, Fresh Hell, Annie and Johanna, alpine tragedy, Switzerland murder case, orphaned daughters, historical investigation, man without a grave, snow-covered secrets.

In our final episode on the world of Freak Shows, we’re closing the curtain with the incredible, tragic, and sometimes triumphant stories of the performers themselves. Meet Schlitzie, the performer who inspired Freaks (1932), a beloved and misunderstood figure of the sideshow world. Krao, the so-called “Missing Link,” whose life challenges the cruel narratives forced upon her. Myrtle Corbin, the "Four-Legged Girl from Texas," who defied expectations and lived on her own terms. And the Two-Headed Nightingale, Millie and Christine McKoy, twin sisters who endured slavery, exploitation, and eventually reclaimed their voices—literally and figuratively.

These were real people with real lives beyond the stage. Their stories are heartbreaking, shocking, and sometimes unexpectedly uplifting. Who profited from their existence? How did they navigate a world that both exploited and celebrated them? And what became of them after the applause faded?

Step right up for the final chapter in our exploration of the history, myths, and realities of the sideshow.

Freak Shows, human oddities, sideshow history, Schlitzie, Freaks (1932), microcephaly, exploitation, circus history, Victorian sideshows, 19th-century performers, 20th-century sideshows, freak show ethics, missing link hoaxes, Krao Farini, human zoos, Myrtle Corbin, dipygus, conjoined twins, Two-Headed Nightingale, Millie and Christine McKoy, P.T. Barnum, medical anomalies, disability and entertainment, tragic lives, forgotten history, sideshow legends, circus performers, American history, human curiosity, spectacle vs. humanity.

This week, we’re bringing you two of the most fascinating and deeply unsettling stories from the world of freak shows: Chang & Eng Bunker, the original Siamese twins, and Julia Pastrana, the so-called ‘Bear Woman.’

Chang and Eng weren’t just a medical curiosity—they were brilliant businessmen, plantation owners, and, oh yeah, enslavers. Their story is full of contradictions—two men who were once paraded as human oddities but ended up profiting off of the very same system that exploited them.

And then there’s Julia Pastrana. Her story? No happy endings. Labeled “The Ugliest Woman in the World”, Julia was abused, exploited, and even put on display after her death—because apparently, 19th-century showmen didn’t believe in letting their performers stay dead.

These are the stories of three performers whose lives couldn’t have been more different—but both prove one thing: once the world decides you’re an exhibit, getting your humanity back is nearly impossible!

In this final part of our Barnum deep dive, we cover his biggest spectacle yet—The Greatest Show on Earth. From the moment he took his circus on the road to his partnership with James A. Bailey, we explore how Barnum turned entertainment into an empire. And of course, we wrap up with the ultimate Barnum move—reading his own obituary before he died. Love him or hate him, Barnum left a legacy that changed the entertainment world forever."

Barnum, The Greatest Show on Earth, James A. Bailey, circus, freak show, Tom Thumb, Jumbo, PT Barnum, Barnum & Bailey, philanthropy, widow, second marriage, politics, Bridgeport, Connecticut, obituary, showman, spectacle, entertainment history, 19th century, traveling circus, legacy

In this episode, we pick up where we left off with P.T. Barnum. We’ll talk about how he turned Scudder’s American Museum into a New York sensation, why General Tom Thumb became a global star, and the controversy around Joice Heth. There’s also the devastating fire that destroyed the museum(s), Barnum’s first steps into the circus world, and the personal losses he endured, including the death of his wife, Charity. It’s all about setbacks, scandals, and spectacle as Barnum’s story keeps surprising us.

P.T. Barnum, Scudder’s American Museum, Barnum’s American Museum, General Tom Thumb, Joice Heth, Feejee Mermaid, museum fire, Charity Hallett, Nancy Fish, traveling circus, Greatest Show on Earth, 19th-century entertainment, spectacle, scandal, personal loss, innovation, resilience

In this episode, we begin our deep dive into the fascinating and controversial life of P.T. Barnum, the man who revolutionized entertainment and gave the world The Greatest Show on Earth. But before we can fully understand Barnum’s impact, we need to explore the history that paved the way for his success: the origins of freak shows.

We trace the roots of these spectacles back to ancient and medieval times, when human oddities were displayed at royal courts, religious festivals, and marketplaces. Over time, these traditions evolved into cabinets of curiosities and traveling fairs, where both artifacts and unique individuals were presented to entertain and educate the public. By the 19th century, freak shows became commercialized, especially with the rise of permanent attractions and traveling circuses.

We also take a hard look at the more troubling aspects of this history, like human zoos and ethnological exhibitions, which exploited colonized peoples and perpetuated harmful stereotypes under the guise of science and education.

With this context, we turn our focus to Barnum, who used his talent for promotion and storytelling to capitalize on the public’s curiosity. From hoaxes like the Feejee Mermaid to genuine stars like General Tom Thumb, Barnum’s American Museum became a landmark of 19th-century entertainment. And while he was a master showman, his career also raises questions about exploitation and ethics that resonate even today.

We round out the episode with a glimpse into Barnum’s personal life, including his marriage to Charity Hallett, the woman who stood by him during his early years as he built his empire.

P.T. Barnum, freak shows, history of freak shows, cabinets of curiosities, traveling fairs, human zoos, ethnological exhibitions, Feejee Mermaid, General Tom Thumb, American Museum, exploitation, showmanship, Charity Hallett, 19th-century entertainment, spectacle, public fascination, Barnum’s personal life

freshhellpodcast.com

Welcome, true-crime lovers, to New Year, New Binge 2025 Edition! What you’ll find included is your guide to an exciting lineup of podcasts that will make 2025 your best year for listening yet. New Years is a time for resolutions, and mine is simple: to share with you the most captivating, chilling, and downright binge-worthy true-crime podcasts. Whether you’re looking to uncover unsolved mysteries or dive into deep investigative storytelling, I’ve got you covered.

Be sure to follow all of the podcasts you enjoyed so you never miss a new episode. Podcasts are listed below in the order in which you will be introduced to them:

Coffee and Cases Podcast https://linktr.ee/coffeeandcases

Heart Starts Pounding  https://www.heartstartspounding.com/

Mortal Musings Podcast  https://linktr.ee/mortalmusingspodcast

True Crime Creepers https://linktr.ee/TrueCrimeCreepers

Private Dicks Podcast https://linktr.ee/privatedicksTwisted Travel and True Crime  https://linktr.ee/twistedtraveltruecrimepodcast