This week we're cooking up a couple stories in the lab so while you wait, please check out Panic World, a fantastic podcast hosted by friend of the show Ryan Broderick.

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Why are cats so popular on the internet? It started with cat memes like I Can Haz Cheezburger and Keyboard Cat, then we became enamored with cat celebrities like Lil Bub, Grumpy Cat, and Princess Monstertruck. And now, we’re witnessing the next evolution in cat internet content: “cute cat AI.”

Our guest and host of American Hysteria, Chelsey Weber-Smith, calls it a “Kitty Horror Picture Show.” Chelsey joins Ryan and Grant to tell us about the explosion of really weird AI-generated cat videos depicting cat families that’s all over TikTok and YouTube right now — much like Elsagate once did in 2014. Then, Ryan takes us back even further, to cover an older cat-based moral panic: Bonsai Kittens. Together, we look at how though technology has changed, we’ve pretty much always wanted to show each other freaky stuff on the internet — whether real or fake.

Our guest Chelsey Weber-Smith hosts American Hysteria, a show that explores the fantastical thinking and irrational fears of Americans. Check it out here or wherever you listen to podcasts. 

LINKS

Garbage Day Newsletter

Panic World

American Hysteria

Earlier this year, David's mouse suddenly stopped working, which wouldn't be that weird, were it not for the fact that people across the world were reporting the same issue with the same mouse. What happened, and why? The Hyperfixed Team investigates.

We are doing a LIVE SHOW in Brooklyn in September, get your tickets here

http://tickets.hyperfixedpod.com/

Please consider becoming a hyperfixed premium member. Your support keeps our show alive.

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LINKS: 

The Lever (David's investigative news website)

Consumer Reports

Growing up, Alison was a voracious reader. But there was one book series in particular that she devoured. "Samurai Girl" by Carrie Asai. Recently, Alison wanted to learn more about the author whose books she loved nearly 20 years ago. But she couldn't find anything about Carrie Asai. No other writing credits. No bio. So it left Alison wondering, who was Carrie Asai?

LINKS:

Get tickets for the Hyperfixed live show!

If you like this episode and would like to hear more like it, as well as join our discord and get discounts on merch, you can support us by going to https://www.hyperfixedpod.com/join. 

An extended (bonus!) interview from our Fauxbituaries episode, now unlocked for you! Investigative journalist, Craig Silverman, helps us track down one of the authors of a fake obituary site.

Get tickets for the Hyperfixed live show!

If you like this episode and would like to hear more like it, as well as join our discord and get discounts on merch, you can support us by going to https://www.hyperfixedpod.com/join. 

LINKS: 

Craig Silverman's website Indicator

The Hyperfixed episode "Fauxbituaries"

This week, another installment of our Hyperfixer series. We chat with an anonymous hacker who took down a white supremacist dating site. 

LINKS:

Get tickets for the Hyperfixed live show!

The twisted logic behind one company's real estate strategy.

https://www.hyperfixedpod.com/join

Check out Planet Money

DISCLAIMER: This episode is not sponsored by Wetzel's Pretzels.

This week we're sharing a podcast we love, the show Smart Girl Dumb Questions. It's a curiosity party, and you're invited. On Smart Girl Dumb Questions, Nayeema Raza asks simple Qs to big thinkers (like Neil deGrasse Tyson, Diplo, or two 11 year olds), trying to make sense of life.

LINKS:

When Markus's good friend died suddenly, he went online to get more information. What he found was several AI written obituaries on dodgy looking websites with a litany of factual inaccuracies. Who is making these, and why? And is there anything that can be done to stop them?

To hear our conversation with Craig Silverman (and a bunch of other great bonus episodes, and join our discord, and get discounts on Hyperfixed merchandise, and support independent journalism) become a Hyperfixed Premium member. If we get 150 signups between now and the end of april, we will give away merch to 5 listeners. If we get more than 150, we'll give away more! 

https://www.hyperfixedpod.com/join

LINKS: 

Alex has a new podcast called Amityvilleville, on which he and his friend Caroline Thompson watch all 92 movies in the Amityville Franchise, interview people involved in the making of these movies, and hopefully some people involved in the true life amityville case! On this episode, we watch Amityville 3-D, the third entry in the series, starring a young Meg Ryan and Lori Laughlin.

Amityville 3-D: Here's how my mom and dad fell back in love after my dad bought a haunted house that killed me and then exploded.

As of this writing, Amityville 3-D is available (lamentably, in 2-D) on the following streaming services:

TUBI

Pluto TV

If you are just discovering this podcast, please consider listening to Alex's other podcast, Hyperfixed

Our most popular bonus episode ever, now unlocked for you. Sometimes, we bite off more than we can chew here at Hyperfixed. This is one of those times. 

Hope you enjoy it! 

If you like this episode and would like to hear more like it, as well as join our discord and get discounts on merch, you can support us by going to https://www.hyperfixedpod.com/join. We're trying to sign up 1500 new premium members so I can give our producers raises and pay them healthcare. Currently, and we only need 1440 more! You can help us reach our goal!