The Cracked Podcast

When you picture a serial killer, what do you think of? Do you think of Hannibal Lecter, a brilliant and sophisticated doctor who treats murder with the joy of a foodie at a gourmet mac & cheese bar? Or do you think of John Doe from 'Seven', a man who goes out of his way to create the most elaborately constructed crime scenes in order to make a thematic point to the police?Either way, you're probably imagining someone way more competent than an actual serial killer. Real murder is messy, and the real reason serial killers get away with what they do is because they're brilliant at feigning human emotion. Evil, yes, but they're not super-geniuses, laughing maniacally at a collage of pictures and string on a wall.On this week's episode, Jack O'Brien is joined by Karen Kilgariff and Georgia Hardstark, the hosts of the podcast 'My Favorite Murder' ( http://goo.gl/gpaZN8 ) to discuss the common assumptions we get wrong about serial killers, theories surrounding the JFK, RFK, and JonBenet Ramsey murders and, of course, some of their favorite murder stories.Footnotes:- HBO's Tales of the Grim Sleeper:  https://goo.gl/t9yLF4 - Popular Crime by Bill James:  http://goo.gl/X6w1HC - The Stranger Beside Me by Ann Rule:  http://goo.gl/MywKqw - The Sociopath Next Door by Martha Stout:  http://goo.gl/aXatW8 - Nikolai Dzhumagaliev (Metal Fang):  https://goo.gl/qiwnur - Metal Fang Escapes:  http://goo.gl/zAGKGZ - Latest DNA Evidence in JonBenet Ramsey Case:  http://goo.gl/GI2Uy7 - Possible CIA Involvement in RFK Assassination:  http://goo.gl/bCKS54 - Lost RFK Photos:  http://goo.gl/9agV9 - Souflikar the Strangling Executioner:  http://goo.gl/xYMmK - Hinterkaifeck Urban Legend: http://goo.gl/iYAg2p - Cropsey:  http://goo.gl/szUCjU - Woman Fed Her Own Dog: http://goo.gl/iYAg2p - Hikers Killed in Avalanche:  http://goo.gl/xpSo - Woman Murdered in Penn State Library:  http://goo.gl/iYAg2p

Why do we think Ned Flanders is so lame? He's outgoing and nice, is always happy to lend out his lawn equipment and looks amazing in ski-wear. Let's first start off by saying, no, the theme behind this episode is not why left-handed people are lame, but we are talking about giving hugs and high fives, staying away from cigarettes and alcohol, loving thy neighbor and all of the attributes we normally credit to boring people. Unfortunately for many of our dear readers and listeners, it's actually scientifically proven that working hard and having less fun leads to a longer, healthier life. On this week's episode, Jack O'Brien, Josh Sargent and Alex Schmidt discuss the ways that uncool behavior is actually beneficial to both the individual and society overall. They try to figure out why, despite all this, our culture still loves the bad boy and thinks nice guys finish last.Footnotes: Allure of the Antihero:  http://goo.gl/tNJz7M Do High Fives Help NBA Players?:  https://goo.gl/7OJlY9 LA Times: Why Loma Linda Residents Live Longer:  http://goo.gl/S9s5Jk Wired: Why Some Animals Are Becoming Nicer:  http://goo.gl/Lbh3nP Terror Management Theory:  https://goo.gl/2KEAcy Gizmodo: Why Do People Take Selfies in Emergencies?:  http://goo.gl/nUJzBG Cracked: 5 Sucker Behaviors That Secretly Give You an Advantage:  http://goo.gl/40LAcN

Why do we think Ned Flanders is so lame? He's outgoing and nice, is always happy to lend out his lawn equipment and looks amazing in ski-wear. Let's first start off by saying, no, the theme behind this episode is not why left-handed people are lame, but we are talking about giving hugs and high fives, staying away from cigarettes and alcohol, loving thy neighbor and all of the attributes we normally credit to boring people. Unfortunately for many of our dear readers and listeners, it's actually scientifically proven that working hard and having less fun leads to a longer, healthier life. On this week's episode, Jack O'Brien, Josh Sargent and Alex Schmidt discuss the ways that uncool behavior is actually beneficial to both the individual and society overall. They try to figure out why, despite all this, our culture still loves the bad boy and thinks nice guys finish last.Footnotes: Allure of the Antihero:  http://goo.gl/tNJz7M Do High Fives Help NBA Players?:  https://goo.gl/7OJlY9 LA Times: Why Loma Linda Residents Live Longer:  http://goo.gl/S9s5Jk Wired: Why Some Animals Are Becoming Nicer:  http://goo.gl/Lbh3nP Terror Management Theory:  https://goo.gl/2KEAcy Gizmodo: Why Do People Take Selfies in Emergencies?:  http://goo.gl/nUJzBG Cracked: 5 Sucker Behaviors That Secretly Give You an Advantage:  http://goo.gl/40LAcN

Though they often seem to be lacking in self-awareness, Americans are well-acquainted with their own stereotypes. Yes, we get it; we're loud, we're brash, we're fat, we love NASCAR and think everyone should speak gosh darn American. These stereotypes in a way are almost self-imposed. We see 'Team America' and we assume that sardonic parody of patriotism is how the rest of the world views us, but that's not always the case.There are tons of stereotypes about Americans we have no idea about because they're things that are so normal to us we don't even notice them. Take cheese, for example. We LOVE cheese, and sure, other countries love it too, but to an Easterner, cheese is a gross, spongy, smelly alien substance. We know our political system is definitely on the wacky side of things, but do we even comprehend how our election looks to the rest of the world, nervously praying Donald Trump doesn't get the nuclear codes?On this episode, we're joined by a few foreigners to talk about all the weird things we do as Americans, but have no idea about. Cracked editor-in-chief Jack O'Brien is joined by Japanese comedian Aiko Tanaka and British comedian Katia Kvinge to talk about our weird food culture and our even weirder dating culture. Later, Jack is joined by Cracked editor and resident Canadian Mark Hill to talk about why American technology lags far behind along with our politics.Footnotes:6 Ways US Elections Look Insane To Non-US Citizens:  http://goo.gl/sBRH9L 18 Simple Ways Other Countries Are Just Better Than America:  http://goo.gl/n8DdqW 19 Ways Americans Don't Realize Life In America Isn't Normal:  http://goo.gl/LtRu9k Deep inside us all behind our political leanings, our moral codes and our private biases, there is a cause so colossally stupid, we surprise ourselves with how much we care. Whether it's toilet paper position, fedoras on men or Oxford commas, we each harbor a preference so powerful we can't help but proselytize to the world. Guest host Soren Bowie will be joined by Cody Johnston, Michael Swaim and comedian Annie Lederman to discuss the most trivial things we will argue about until the day we die. This next LIVE episode of The Cracked Podcast will be on Saturday, May 14th at 7pm at the UCB Sunset Theatre in Los Angeles. Tickets are $5 and on sale here:  https://goo.gl/znDZRH

Though they often seem to be lacking in self-awareness, Americans are well-acquainted with their own stereotypes. Yes, we get it; we're loud, we're brash, we're fat, we love NASCAR and think everyone should speak gosh darn American. These stereotypes in a way are almost self-imposed. We see 'Team America' and we assume that sardonic parody of patriotism is how the rest of the world views us, but that's not always the case.There are tons of stereotypes about Americans we have no idea about because they're things that are so normal to us we don't even notice them. Take cheese, for example. We LOVE cheese, and sure, other countries love it too, but to an Easterner, cheese is a gross, spongy, smelly alien substance. We know our political system is definitely on the wacky side of things, but do we even comprehend how our election looks to the rest of the world, nervously praying Donald Trump doesn't get the nuclear codes?On this episode, we're joined by a few foreigners to talk about all the weird things we do as Americans, but have no idea about. Cracked editor-in-chief Jack O'Brien is joined by Japanese comedian Aiko Tanaka and British comedian Katia Kvinge to talk about our weird food culture and our even weirder dating culture. Later, Jack is joined by Cracked editor and resident Canadian Mark Hill to talk about why American technology lags far behind along with our politics.Footnotes:6 Ways US Elections Look Insane To Non-US Citizens:  http://goo.gl/sBRH9L 18 Simple Ways Other Countries Are Just Better Than America:  http://goo.gl/n8DdqW 19 Ways Americans Don't Realize Life In America Isn't Normal:  http://goo.gl/LtRu9k Deep inside us all behind our political leanings, our moral codes and our private biases, there is a cause so colossally stupid, we surprise ourselves with how much we care. Whether it's toilet paper position, fedoras on men or Oxford commas, we each harbor a preference so powerful we can't help but proselytize to the world. Guest host Soren Bowie will be joined by Cody Johnston, Michael Swaim and comedian Annie Lederman to discuss the most trivial things we will argue about until the day we die. This next LIVE episode of The Cracked Podcast will be on Saturday, May 14th at 7pm at the UCB Sunset Theatre in Los Angeles. Tickets are $5 and on sale here:  https://goo.gl/znDZRH

Two years ago we told you the tales of some of the most badass people lost to the annals of history. There was Peter Freuchen, the 6'7" Danish explorer who clawed his way out of an ice cave using a shovel he made out of his own feces; and Elmer Keith, who could shoot objects from hundreds of yards away with the accuracy of a sniper, except he could do it with a revolver, one of the least accurate guns you could use in long-range. That episode ( https://goo.gl/nyhS0s ) was so popular and there were so many people we had to leave out, it was absolutely imperative we come back with more epic stories of incredible people you've probably never heard of. Just to name a few, this year, we have a crazy land mine defuser, a ruthless pirate queen and a gay revolutionary war hero who was half Rambo/half Santa Claus. Co-hosts Jack O'Brien and Michael Swaim are joined by Cracked writers Alex Schmidt, Carmen Angelica, Josh Sargent and Tom Reimann, and comedians Ian Abramson and Blake Wexler. It's a heroic tournament-style podcast where one person will be crowned the ultimate unknown badass, winning a very special prize of our temporary respect and adoration.Footnotes:Cracked: 5 Spies With Bigger Balls Than James Bond (#4 Fritz Duquesne):  http://goo.gl/mORjz Short Biography of Sybil Luddington:  http://goo.gl/P4aAQu Short Biography of Tisquantum:  http://goo.gl/Zw6QHe CNN Profile of Aki Rah:  http://goo.gl/m4QAAd Baron von Steuben's Biography:  http://goo.gl/jr3cDw The Life of PT Barnum, Written by Himself:  http://goo.gl/jhd5xN  Rama Sukana and the Mythical Origins of Pencak Silat:  http://goo.gl/sZygVs Short Biography of Ching Shih:  http://goo.gl/Mskvcv

Two years ago we told you the tales of some of the most badass people lost to the annals of history. There was Peter Freuchen, the 6'7" Danish explorer who clawed his way out of an ice cave using a shovel he made out of his own feces; and Elmer Keith, who could shoot objects from hundreds of yards away with the accuracy of a sniper, except he could do it with a revolver, one of the least accurate guns you could use in long-range. That episode ( https://goo.gl/nyhS0s ) was so popular and there were so many people we had to leave out, it was absolutely imperative we come back with more epic stories of incredible people you've probably never heard of. Just to name a few, this year, we have a crazy land mine defuser, a ruthless pirate queen and a gay revolutionary war hero who was half Rambo/half Santa Claus. Co-hosts Jack O'Brien and Michael Swaim are joined by Cracked writers Alex Schmidt, Carmen Angelica, Josh Sargent and Tom Reimann, and comedians Ian Abramson and Blake Wexler. It's a heroic tournament-style podcast where one person will be crowned the ultimate unknown badass, winning a very special prize of our temporary respect and adoration.Footnotes:Cracked: 5 Spies With Bigger Balls Than James Bond (#4 Fritz Duquesne):  http://goo.gl/mORjz Short Biography of Sybil Luddington:  http://goo.gl/P4aAQu Short Biography of Tisquantum:  http://goo.gl/Zw6QHe CNN Profile of Aki Rah:  http://goo.gl/m4QAAd Baron von Steuben's Biography:  http://goo.gl/jr3cDw The Life of PT Barnum, Written by Himself:  http://goo.gl/jhd5xN  Rama Sukana and the Mythical Origins of Pencak Silat:  http://goo.gl/sZygVs Short Biography of Ching Shih:  http://goo.gl/Mskvcv

If you could go anywhere in time to live the rest of your life, where would you go? It probably depends on what you're looking for. Would you be looking to live in a time of relative peace, a time of great technological advancement, or simply a time where there wasn't some horrible plague killing off everybody you know and love? Doc Brown thought he had it all in the 1880s, but that period probably wouldn't be super awesome if you were a woman or a minority. Actually most time periods would be pretty bad in those circumstances. Not to mention that humans knew nothing about medicine and just generally not dying all the time until very recently. So obviously it's a difficult question with an unclear answer: when was the best time in human history to be alive? Hell, the answer might just be today. As in, whatever day you're reading this. This is the best day. To figure out this question, Jack O'Brien is first joined by Peter Stearns, author and professor at George Mason University to talk about the place of happiness in human history: which civilizations had it, which didn't, and when and where were they? Later, Jack talks about Cracked Podcast pet subject the Flynn Effect with none other than Jim Flynn, the guy who put his name on it. If every generation is getting slightly smarter than the last, how does that affect quality of life, and is there a limit to how smart humans can get?Footnotes:Peter Stearns, 'Teaching Consumerism in World History':  http://goo.gl/dO3XrD The Flynn Effect Summary of Findings:  http://goo.gl/AYYIYO Smithsonian Interview with James Flynn:  http://goo.gl/rX1AZn James Flynn's Torchlight Reading List:  http://goo.gl/iVkaLY James Flynn TED Talk:  https://goo.gl/i6vw2v

If you could go anywhere in time to live the rest of your life, where would you go? It probably depends on what you're looking for. Would you be looking to live in a time of relative peace, a time of great technological advancement, or simply a time where there wasn't some horrible plague killing off everybody you know and love? Doc Brown thought he had it all in the 1880s, but that period probably wouldn't be super awesome if you were a woman or a minority. Actually most time periods would be pretty bad in those circumstances. Not to mention that humans knew nothing about medicine and just generally not dying all the time until very recently. So obviously it's a difficult question with an unclear answer: when was the best time in human history to be alive? Hell, the answer might just be today. As in, whatever day you're reading this. This is the best day. To figure out this question, Jack O'Brien is first joined by Peter Stearns, author and professor at George Mason University to talk about the place of happiness in human history: which civilizations had it, which didn't, and when and where were they? Later, Jack talks about Cracked Podcast pet subject the Flynn Effect with none other than Jim Flynn, the guy who put his name on it. If every generation is getting slightly smarter than the last, how does that affect quality of life, and is there a limit to how smart humans can get?Footnotes:Peter Stearns, 'Teaching Consumerism in World History':  http://goo.gl/dO3XrD The Flynn Effect Summary of Findings:  http://goo.gl/AYYIYO Smithsonian Interview with James Flynn:  http://goo.gl/rX1AZn James Flynn's Torchlight Reading List:  http://goo.gl/iVkaLY James Flynn TED Talk:  https://goo.gl/i6vw2v

If you're afraid big corporations will one day try to beam ideas directly into your mind, too late. They've been doing this for years and you haven't even noticed it. Think about your grocery store. Right after you walk in, there's probably fresh flowers and produce. That's because supermarkets know that if you see fresh stuff when you walk in, you'll want to buy more food. There are subtle design features built into almost every facet of day-to-day life that are specifically engineered to get you to think a certain way, behave a certain way, and buy more stuff. This might sound like the ravings of someone whose car is covered in conspiracy theory bumper stickers, but once you start to notice the patterns and the reasoning, you'll see it everywhere.This week Jack O'Brien and Jason Pargin (aka David Wong) discuss how supermarkets, car companies, local governments and more use mind control every day without you even realizing it.Footnotes:Magazine Covers With Obscured Wedding Rings:  http://goo.gl/NP4SVz Slate: "It Ain't Easy Being Green":  http://goo.gl/w6TdNN 5 Ways Stores Use Science To Trick You Into Buying Crap:  http://goo.gl/2Qz0O 8 Gadgets That Lie To You Every Day:  http://goo.gl/5H265 The 5 Most Hilariously Drug-Fueled Celebrity Interviews Ever:  https://goo.gl/hKv3pc Snopes: Instant Cake Mixes and Eggs:  http://goo.gl/Ima0d 5 Creepy Forms of Mind Control You're Exposed to Daily:  http://goo.gl/cx2Nr 5 Creepy Ways Your Town Is Designed to Control Your Mind:  http://goo.gl/4x6IL7 Vote for Cracked at the Webby Awards!Best Online Film & Video Entertainment Channel:  https://goo.gl/4v4ZrH Best Humor Website:  https://goo.gl/9bPgYE