For centuries, Europe’s most celebrated opera singers had voices that sounded almost supernatural — powerful, soaring, and unlike anything audiences had ever heard before.

They were known as the castrati.

From the sacred choirs of the Vatican to the grand opera houses of Europe, these singers became some of the biggest celebrities of the 17th and 18th centuries. Kings invited them to royal courts. Fans travelled across countries just to hear them perform. Some became astonishingly wealthy and famous.

But behind those extraordinary voices was a secret far darker than most audiences realised.

In this episode of The StickyBeak, Monika O’Hanlon explores the strange and unsettling history of the castrati — how the practice began in Renaissance Italy, why thousands of boys were drawn into the system, and how a handful rose to become global superstars like Farinelli.

You’ll also hear about the last surviving castrato, Alessandro Moreschi, whose early 1900s recordings remain the only surviving example of what these voices actually sounded like.

It’s a story about music, fame, ambition… and the uncomfortable lengths societies will sometimes go to in pursuit of beauty.

This episode was brought to you by Tüt, toilet lid stickers to zhuzh up your toot. Because every throne needs a crown.

https://www.etsy.com/shop/tutdeco/

🎉 Big news! The StickyBeak will be returning to two episodes a week!

• Wednesdays: Your regular deep dive into the weird, wonderful, and wonderfully strange stories from around the world.
• Mondays: A brand-new episode all about YOUR stories — the wild, funny, and outrageous confessions you send in.

Got a story to share? Be a StickyBeak and submit it here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScK_D0b6Cp7WAKDq4thfd4EZNrXJPba1C2r9VZkxptxbYmJtA/viewform! 🦜

Got an Idea for the Podcast?

I’d love to hear from you! If there’s a topic you’d like me to explore or someone you think would make a great guest, flick me a message.

EMAIL: [email protected]

INSTAGRAM: @thestickybeakpodcast

TIKTOK: @thestickybeakpodcast

FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/listen.with.mon

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In October 1989, a brutal killing on the banks of the Brisbane River shocked Queensland.

Within days, newspapers around the world were running the same chilling headline: “The Lesbian Vampire Killer.”

But how did a tragic crime become a global media sensation?

In this episode of The StickyBeak, Monika O’Hanlon revisits the infamous case of Tracey Wigginton and the murder of Edward Baldock — exploring the events of that night, the rumours that followed, and the headlines that turned a shocking crime into one of Australia’s most sensationalised stories.

This episode looks beyond the label to examine how media narratives can shape public perception — and how some headlines take on a life of their own.

Listener discretion advised.

This episode was brought to you by Tüt, toilet lid stickers to zhuzh up your toot. Because every throne needs a crown.

https://www.etsy.com/shop/tutdeco/

🎉 Big news! The StickyBeak will be returning to two episodes a week!

• Wednesdays: Your regular deep dive into the weird, wonderful, and wonderfully strange stories from around the world.
• Mondays: A brand-new episode all about YOUR stories — the wild, funny, and outrageous confessions you send in.

Got a story to share? Be a StickyBeak and submit it here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScK_D0b6Cp7WAKDq4thfd4EZNrXJPba1C2r9VZkxptxbYmJtA/viewform! 🦜

Got an Idea for the Podcast?

I’d love to hear from you! If there’s a topic you’d like me to explore or someone you think would make a great guest, flick me a message.

EMAIL: [email protected]

INSTAGRAM: @thestickybeakpodcast

TIKTOK: @thestickybeakpodcast

FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/listen.with.mon

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Crop circles have appeared overnight for decades — vast geometric patterns pressed into fields, from rural England to regional Australia. Perfect spirals. Massive fractals. Designs so precise they seem almost impossible.

Are they proof of alien life? Elaborate hoaxes? Or something far more human?

In this episode of The StickyBeak, Mon explores the UFO sightings, the famous Stonehenge formation that stunned the world, and the quiet confessions that changed everything.

Because even if crop circles are made by human hands… the mystery surrounding them refuses to disappear.

Aliens, hoaxers, mass belief — and the enduring question: are we alone?

This episode was brought to you by Tüt, toilet lid stickers to zhuzh up your toot. Because every throne needs a crown.

https://www.etsy.com/shop/tutdeco/

🎉 Big news! The StickyBeak will be returning to two episodes a week!

• Wednesdays: Your regular deep dive into the weird, wonderful, and wonderfully strange stories from around the world.
• Mondays: A brand-new episode all about YOUR stories — the wild, funny, and outrageous confessions you send in.

Got a story to share? Be a StickyBeak and submit it here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScK_D0b6Cp7WAKDq4thfd4EZNrXJPba1C2r9VZkxptxbYmJtA/viewform! 🦜

Got an Idea for the Podcast?

I’d love to hear from you! If there’s a topic you’d like me to explore or someone you think would make a great guest, flick me a message.

EMAIL: [email protected]

INSTAGRAM: @thestickybeakpodcast

TIKTOK: @thestickybeakpodcast

FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/listen.with.mon

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Isadora Duncan changed the world of dance forever.

Revered as the mother of modern dance, Isadora Duncan rejected rigid ballet tradition and created a radical new style built on freedom, emotion, and natural movement. She became an international sensation — admired, criticized, and endlessly talked about.

But behind the fame was a life marked by heartbreak, scandal, controversy, and profound personal tragedy.

In this episode, we explore the extraordinary life of Isadora Duncan — from her rise to global stardom to the deeply personal losses that shaped her art. And we examine the shocking final chapter that cemented her place in history.

This is the tragic life of a dance pioneer — and the night that changed everything.

A HUGE thank you to listener James for requesting this episode. Check out his IG here: @jstrakertroublemaker

This episode was brought to you by Tüt, toilet lid stickers to zhuzh up your toot. Because every throne needs a crown.

https://www.etsy.com/shop/tutdeco/

🎉 Big news! The StickyBeak will be returning to two episodes a week!

• Wednesdays: Your regular deep dive into the weird, wonderful, and wonderfully strange stories from around the world.
• Mondays: A brand-new episode all about YOUR stories — the wild, funny, and outrageous confessions you send in.

Got a story to share? Be a StickyBeak and submit it here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScK_D0b6Cp7WAKDq4thfd4EZNrXJPba1C2r9VZkxptxbYmJtA/viewform! 🦜

Got an Idea for the Podcast?

I’d love to hear from you! If there’s a topic you’d like me to explore or someone you think would make a great guest, flick me a message.

EMAIL: [email protected]

INSTAGRAM: @thestickybeakpodcast

TIKTOK: @thestickybeakpodcast

FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/listen.with.mon

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The 27 Club has fascinated the world for decades.

Why did icons like Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin, Jim Morrison, Kurt Cobain, Amy Winehouse and Brian Jones all die at 27? Coincidence — or something more?

In this episode, we unpack the origins of the 27 Club and separate fact from folklore. From the white lighter myth to Saturn return astrology, from crossroads legends to Illuminati and ritual sacrifice claims — where did these theories come from, and do they hold up?

We also explore the role of fame, addiction, industry pressure and the psychology behind why we’re so drawn to this number.

Is the 27 Club real — or is it a story we’ve built around tragedy?

Listen now and decide for yourself.

This episode was brought to you by Tüt, toilet lid stickers to zhuzh up your toot. Because every throne needs a crown.

https://www.etsy.com/shop/tutdeco/

🎉 Big news! The StickyBeak will be returning to two episodes a week!

• Wednesdays: Your regular deep dive into the weird, wonderful, and wonderfully strange stories from around the world.
• Mondays: A brand-new episode all about YOUR stories — the wild, funny, and outrageous confessions you send in.

Got a story to share? Be a StickyBeak and submit it here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScK_D0b6Cp7WAKDq4thfd4EZNrXJPba1C2r9VZkxptxbYmJtA/viewform! 🦜

Got an Idea for the Podcast?

I’d love to hear from you! If there’s a topic you’d like me to explore or someone you think would make a great guest, flick me a message.

EMAIL: [email protected]

INSTAGRAM: @thestickybeakpodcast

TIKTOK: @thestickybeakpodcast

FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/listen.with.mon

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What does it mean to fall in love with an object?

In this episode of The StickyBeak, we explore objectophilia — a rare and often misunderstood orientation where people form deep romantic relationships with objects. From the woman who married the Berlin Wall to a modern-day objectophile in a committed relationship with a roller coaster, this documentary-style episode unpacks love, attachment, psychology, and stigma.

Is it fetish? Is it identity? Or is it something more complex?

A curious, nuanced look at one of the most unusual love stories you’ve never fully understood.

Thank you so much to GaLooping for sharing her experiences.

You can find her on Instagram here: @gigantischpropeller

Listen to her music on Suno here: @galooping1

This episode was brought to you by Tüt, toilet lid stickers to zhuzh up your toot. Because every throne needs a crown.

https://www.etsy.com/shop/tutdeco/

🎉 Big news! The StickyBeak will be returning to two episodes a week!

• Wednesdays: Your regular deep dive into the weird, wonderful, and wonderfully strange stories from around the world.
• Mondays: A brand-new episode all about YOUR stories — the wild, funny, and outrageous confessions you send in.

Got a story to share? Be a StickyBeak and submit it here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScK_D0b6Cp7WAKDq4thfd4EZNrXJPba1C2r9VZkxptxbYmJtA/viewform! 🦜

Got an Idea for the Podcast?

I’d love to hear from you! If there’s a topic you’d like me to explore or someone you think would make a great guest, flick me a message.

EMAIL: [email protected]

INSTAGRAM: @thestickybeakpodcast

TIKTOK: @thestickybeakpodcast

FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/listen.with.mon

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Go behind the scenes of The StickyBeak in this wild, interactive podcast episode! I’m revisiting the craziest, funniest, and most jaw-dropping moments from past shows, answering your burning listener questions, and sharing the weirdest, most unexpected stories you won’t hear anywhere else. Perfect for fans of interactive, hilarious, and unforgettable podcasts!

This episode was brought to you by Tüt, toilet lid stickers to zhuzh up your toot. Because every throne needs a crown.

https://www.etsy.com/shop/tutdeco/

🎉 Big news! The StickyBeak will be returning to two episodes a week!

• Wednesdays: Your regular deep dive into the weird, wonderful, and wonderfully strange stories from around the world.
• Mondays: A brand-new episode all about YOUR stories — the wild, funny, and outrageous confessions you send in.

Got a story to share? Be a StickyBeak and submit it here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScK_D0b6Cp7WAKDq4thfd4EZNrXJPba1C2r9VZkxptxbYmJtA/viewform! 🦜

Got an Idea for the Podcast?

I’d love to hear from you! If there’s a topic you’d like me to explore or someone you think would make a great guest, flick me a message.

EMAIL: [email protected]

INSTAGRAM: @thestickybeakpodcast

TIKTOK: @thestickybeakpodcast

FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/listen.with.mon

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

At several points in our deep past, humanity came dangerously close to disappearing altogether. Using the latest genetic research, this episode explores the moments when our ancestors were reduced to astonishingly small numbers — and how scientists uncovered these ancient population crashes hidden inside our DNA. From dramatic climate shifts to evolutionary bottlenecks, this is the story of how close humans came to extinction… and how we survived.

A HUGE thank you to Dean for requesting this episode - if you've got an idea for an episode please get in touch! All my contact info is below.

This episode was brought to you by Tüt, toilet lid stickers to zhuzh up your toot. Because every throne needs a crown.

https://www.etsy.com/shop/tutdeco/

🎉 Big news! The StickyBeak will be returning to two episodes a week!

• Wednesdays: Your regular deep dive into the weird, wonderful, and wonderfully strange stories from around the world.
• Mondays: A brand-new episode all about YOUR stories — the wild, funny, and outrageous confessions you send in.

Got a story to share? Be a StickyBeak and submit it here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScK_D0b6Cp7WAKDq4thfd4EZNrXJPba1C2r9VZkxptxbYmJtA/viewform! 🦜

Got an Idea for the Podcast?

I’d love to hear from you! If there’s a topic you’d like me to explore or someone you think would make a great guest, flick me a message.

EMAIL: [email protected]

INSTAGRAM: @thestickybeakpodcast

TIKTOK: @thestickybeakpodcast

FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/listen.with.mon

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Schwingen is one of Switzerland’s oldest and most beloved traditions — a form of wrestling fought in sawdust, governed by ritual, and rooted in rural life. In this documentary-style episode, Mon traces its history from Alpine pastures to national festivals, and examines how women are reshaping a sport built on centuries of tradition.

A HUGE thank you to Vroni Brun for sharing her experiences.

This episode was brought to you by Tüt, toilet lid stickers to zhuzh up your toot. Because every throne needs a crown.

https://www.etsy.com/shop/tutdeco/

🎉 Big news! The StickyBeak will be returning to two episodes a week!

• Wednesdays: Your regular deep dive into the weird, wonderful, and wonderfully strange stories from around the world.
• Mondays: A brand-new episode all about YOUR stories — the wild, funny, and outrageous confessions you send in.

Got a story to share? Be a StickyBeak and submit it here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScK_D0b6Cp7WAKDq4thfd4EZNrXJPba1C2r9VZkxptxbYmJtA/viewform! 🦜

Got an Idea for the Podcast?

I’d love to hear from you! If there’s a topic you’d like me to explore or someone you think would make a great guest, flick me a message.

EMAIL: [email protected]

INSTAGRAM: @thestickybeakpodcast

TIKTOK: @thestickybeakpodcast

FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/listen.with.mon

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What happens when women become the client — and men become the product?

In this episode of The StickyBeak, host Monika O’Hanlon takes a curious, documentary-style look inside Her Confidant, Australia’s first male escort agency, founded by Anna Grosman. Through Anna’s story, we explore sex work from a rarely examined angle: female desire, emotional labour, intimacy, and what people are really paying for when they hire an escort.

With warmth and curiosity this episode looks at how sex work intersects with power, pleasure, loneliness and stigma — and why conversations about women’s sexuality are still so often uncomfortable.

Note: This episode is told largely from a heteronormative perspective. Monika acknowledges the gaps — and invites listeners to help shape a future deep dive into women-on-women pleasure and queer sex work.

Thanks to Anna Grosman for jumping on the pod. You can find out more about Her Confidant here: https://herconfidant.com.au/

This episode was brought to you by Tüt, toilet lid stickers to zhuzh up your toot. Because every throne needs a crown.

https://www.etsy.com/shop/tutdeco/

🎉 Big news! The StickyBeak will be returning to two episodes a week!

• Wednesdays: Your regular deep dive into the weird, wonderful, and wonderfully strange stories from around the world.
• Mondays: A brand-new episode all about YOUR stories — the wild, funny, and outrageous confessions you send in.

Got a story to share? Be a StickyBeak and submit it here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScK_D0b6Cp7WAKDq4thfd4EZNrXJPba1C2r9VZkxptxbYmJtA/viewform! 🦜

Got an Idea for the Podcast?

I’d love to hear from you! If there’s a topic you’d like me to explore or someone you think would make a great guest, flick me a message.

EMAIL: [email protected]

INSTAGRAM: @thestickybeakpodcast

TIKTOK: @thestickybeakpodcast

FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/listen.with.mon

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.