Melanie Avalon and Scott Emmens take you on a wild linguistic ride through the dark, twisted, and downright bizarre origins of common phrases you use every day—without ever questioning why. Did “saved by the bell” really come from boxing... or was it from people being buried alive in the 1700s? From puppet murderers and medieval rooftops to pigs kicking beams and reading laws aloud before riots, this episode unpacks the strange stories behind the sayings that slip into our conversations. (And yes, “cold turkey” has nothing to do with leftovers.)

Melanie Avalon and Scott Emmens venture into the shadowy world of US cryptids, the mysterious beings said to dwell just beyond the veil of our known reality, from the unsettling grins of the Black-Eyed Kids to the elusive Michigan Dogman, this episode explores creatures that that follows you home. Who is the White Thing, and why does it terrify rural communities? What do the Stick Indians whisper in the woods? Listeners will meet a host of uncanny entities. Are these just folklore... or is something stranger afoot?

Melanie Avalon and Scott Emmens take you into the chilling world of Lizzie Borden, the woman accused of one of the most infamous double murders in American history. In 1892, the quiet town of Fall River, Massachusetts, was rocked by the gruesome axe killings of Andrew and Abby Borden. The primary suspect? Their seemingly prim and proper daughter, Lizzie. From the details of the crime scene to the bizarre behavior that followed, they explore the cast of suspects, the shocking trial, and the lingering question that still divides true crime fans today: Did she do it? Plus, the eerie legacy lives on: you can actually spend the night in the Borden house today.

Melanie Avalon and Scott Emmens take you on a hilarious, head-scratching tour of the strangest laws still technically on the books in the United States. From pickles that must bounce in Connecticut to a bathtub-banishing donkey in Arizona, this episode is a legal labyrinth of bizarre bureaucracy and outdated oddities. Whether it’s illegal couch décor, surprise pizzas, or outlawed seaweed collecting under the moonlight, these real (and ridiculous) laws will have you laughing, gasping, and wondering how on earth some of them ever came to be. (Is your dog’s tail 46 inches long? Asking for a friend in Alaska.)

Melanie Avalon and Scott Emmens take you inside the twisted mind and bone-chilling exploits of America’s first known serial killer: H. H. Holmes. Beneath the polished facade of a charming doctor and businessman, Holmes constructed his infamous “Murder Castle” during the 1893 Chicago World’s Fair—a labyrinthine hotel rigged with trapdoors, gas chambers, and secret chutes designed for death. What drove this calculating killer? How did he lure his victims? And what secrets were sealed behind the walls of his macabre mansion? From his early cons to the haunting discovery of his body count, they uncover the shocking psychology, staggering manipulation, and sheer horror behind one of the most disturbing chapters in American true crime.

Melanie Avalon and Scott Emmens dive into what may be the most disastrously absurd sporting event in Olympic history: the 1904 men’s marathon in St. Louis, considered so dangerous that countries later petitioned to have the race banned altogether. Set against a backdrop of scorching heat, open roads, and purposeful dehydration, the event quickly devolved into a chaotic spectacle of confusion, collapse, and questionable science. From hallucinations and fieldside naps to runners hitching car rides and enduring on rat poison and brandy, this so-called race blurred the line between athleticism and a dark comedy of errors. (Brandy, dust, and delusion - what could possibly go wrong?)

Melanie Avalon and Scott Emmens journey beyond the stars in this cosmic episode exploring the dazzling, dramatic, and sometimes devastating history of NASA and space exploration.  From the tragic tales of Apollo 1, Challenger, and Columbia, to the wild ingenuity behind Apollo 8 and the moon landing, to the surprising ways space tech has transformed everyday products on Earth, the duo dives deep into the victories and heartbreaks of humankind’s quest for the final frontier. Get ready for the most watched event in history, the rise of SpaceX and private spaceflight that's rewriting the cosmic rulebook—and... meat mysteriously falling from the sky? 

Melanie Avalon and Scott Emmens dive into the deliciously deceptive world of food myths, exposing the truth behind everything from whether you really need to wait an hour after eating to swim, to the origins of fortune cookies, Hawaiian pizza, and Caesar salad. Get ready for surprising facts about expiration dates, cooking science, and more. Say goodbye to kitchen folklore and hello to mind-blown mealtime revelations! Did you ever eat Cosmic Brownies? You'll never look at them the same way again!

In this mind-expanding episode of The Mind Blown Podcast, Melanie Avalon and Danielle dive into the surreal world of lucid dreaming: when you become aware that you're dreaming and can take control of the dream itself. They share their personal experiences, discuss how common lucid dreaming actually is, and discuss reality checks, leveraging micro-awakenings, and even using insomnia to your advantage. From flying to dream sex to the mystical practice of dream yoga, they explore what most people do once they’re lucid: and how you can start (or restart) your own journey into conscious dreaming.

What happens when one man decides to actually live by the U.S. Constitution? In this hilariously profound and wildly informative conversation, Melanie Avalon welcomes beloved bestselling author A.J. Jacobs to discuss his latest book, The Year of Living Constitutionally: One Man's Humble Quest to Follow the Constitution’s Original Meaning.

Melanie and A.J. dive deep into what it means to interpret America’s founding document literally—from carrying a musket around New York City (yes, really), to writing with a goose quill, to throwing 18th-century dinner parties complete with cloves, wool socks, and constitutional debates. They explore the murky origins of the Electoral College, the evolution of the First Amendment, and the surprising realities of freedom of the press (spoiler: you could be fined for cursing in public). They even tackle the Constitution’s lesser-known gems—like your literal right to become a legal pirate.

A.J. also shares how living by the Constitution brought out immense gratitude (for things like elastic and modern medicine), revealed the dangers of misplaced nostalgia, and inspired a national movement around election cakes (yes, again—really). This episode is a laugh-out-loud, mind-expanding journey through American history and democracy that you’ll never forget.

(Also includes talk of sock belts, Robo Madison, the Mandela Effect, and what would happen if the Founding Fathers discovered TikTok. Say what?!)