Podcast Without an Audience

"This is who I'm meant to be, this is me." In honor of National Coming Out Day, CA covers the history and dangers of conversion therapy. Allison then shares with us the true story of "The Greatest Show."

Hi Teamsters! Welcome to our weird labyrinth brain thing(TM). Carey Ann once again takes us back to ancient Greece then a voyage through time with a brief stop in Austria before making our way to your ears. Narcissistic Personality Disorder goes way beyond vanity and selfies and Carey Ann discusses the nuances, root causes, and treatment options. Allison then finishes up her first two-part series and pulls back the curtain on the Book of Mormon. Needless to say, sometimes answers lead to more questions. These two friends speculate wildly about the church, Joseph Smith, and magic underwear.

Let's shake things up a little this week. Carey Ann covers a history-heavy topic with a fun psychology/sociology spin, as we learn about the CIA's mind-control experiments that may or may not have lead to the counter-culture drug craze of the 1960s. Then, who is this guy "Mormon" and why does he have so many books? Allison begins her first two-part series on the Book of Mormon, the book, not the play. Unlikely storylines and lots of laughter ensue.

Before they get started, it is time for a little walk down memory lane for all the Millenials... Now, back to business. Carey Ann once again does a deep dive into a Freudian theory, this time with greek roots. Allison asks the hard questions [to paraphrase]: "How does he come up with this shit?" For better or worse, Oedipus, Electra, and Little Hans are known for little else than their relationships with their parents and their connection to Freud. In the second half, Allison briefly covers the most fatal epidemic in world history, the Black Death. Admittedly, talking about an epidemic during a pandemic feels eery; but not as uncomfortable as hearing Allison's description of boils or uncovering the meaning of a popular nursery rhyme. This episode is full of throwbacks which just serve to remind us all how far we have come.

Happy Bonus Episode Day!! As usual, Allison picks a cult and Carey Ann picked a cult classic and we don't find intersections. The Unification Church - another audacious cult leader with some strange beliefs and even stranger s*x practices. Seems like there could be a link-up to the cult movie of the week which is a rock musical about a person with a botched sex-change operation who is searching for love and identity. As always, Allison and Carey Ann are so thankful for Patreon Picks, especially when they line up so beautifully with their own cinematic tastes.

Some things are hard: growing up, our foster care system, and knowing who to trust with your money... This episode covers a broad spectrum of emotions and lived experiences. Carey Ann explores a mysterious name written at the top of a piece of paper in a child's file. The story of Willie Monteith had a lasting impact not only on those who knew him but children in the foster care system for years to come. Update: Willie Monteith passed away in 2020.

Allison does not only give us the history of Ponzi Schemes, and explains the differences between these and pyramid schemes, she also shares the story of one of the most well-known Ponzi Schemes. From vintage get-rich-quick schemes to Wall Street, this Patreon Pick was a great topic to unpack.

Time for a light and fun episode, at least in the first half. Carey Ann explores a strange phenomenon where some people taste words, feel sounds, or like Allison, can see time in space. Allison then takes the charge and tells us the more graphic details of where babies come from.

Moral of this story: "The world would be a better place if we could experience other people's experiences."

Carey Ann winds up her first three-part series with an analysis of 'freeze' and 'fawn' using the ever-popular [and super traumatizing] TV show, Grey's Anatomy. Allison then jumps in with an equally traumatizing true story of the Challenger Explosion, complete with a surprise ending that wasn't taught in schools. In addition to intersections, and with all that is going on in the world, your hosts would like to remind you to take care of yourselves this week.

In part two of CA's trauma and fear response series, she ironically uses the movie Frozen to talk about the flight response. Stick with us here, it fits surprisingly well. Then, let's come together for Allison's coverage of John Lennon and his unfortunate demise. The moral of this story, we get by with a little help from our friends. What intersections can you find?

Join our heroes this week as they talk about other heroes. In part 1 of a trauma response series, Carey Ann lays some groundwork about brains and trauma then we get nerdy with The Hulk. What superhero doesn't have some childhood trauma? Bruce Banner has it in spades, as evidenced by occasionally turning green and smashing things. Then, Allison shares exciting news about Rhiana becoming the wealthiest female musician in the world, which led her to ask the question: who was the first billionaire? Hint: he is "way less cool." Keep listening to find out if they find intersections in the Vinn Diagram of trauma and success.