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.

What happens when one of Switzerland’s oldest traditions begins to change?

Schwingen, also known as Swiss wrestling, is one of Switzerland’s oldest and most beloved sporting traditions. Wrestlers compete in a sawdust-covered ring, wearing traditional clothing and following rituals passed down through generations.

In this documentary-style episode of The StickyBeak, Mon explores the history of Schwingen, from its roots in rural Alpine Switzerland to the huge national festivals that attract thousands of spectators today.

But Schwingen isn’t just about wrestling. It’s a tradition tied to Swiss culture, identity, masculinity, community and rural life — and it’s changing.

As more women enter the world of Schwingen, what happens to a sport shaped by centuries of tradition? Who gets to participate in Switzerland’s national sport, and what does its future look like?

From sawdust wrestling and Alpine traditions to women breaking into a traditionally male-dominated sport, this episode takes you inside the fascinating world of Schwingen and asks what happens when an ancient tradition meets a changing society.

What is Schwingen? Why is Swiss wrestling so important to Swiss culture? And how are women reshaping one of Switzerland’s most traditional sports?

Listen to The StickyBeak to discover the history, rituals and changing face of Schwingen.

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 does it mean to fall in love with an object — and can an object become the focus of a genuine romantic relationship?

In this episode of The StickyBeak, we dive into objectophilia, also known as objectum sexuality (OS) — a rare and often misunderstood phenomenon in which people experience romantic, emotional or sexual attraction to inanimate objects.

From the woman who famously fell in love with and married the Berlin Wall to an objectophile who has formed a committed relationship with a roller coaster, this documentary-style episode explores what it means to experience love and attraction in a way most of us have never considered.

What draws someone to an object? Can you really fall in love with something that can't love you back? And is objectophilia a fetish, a sexual orientation, an identity — or something more complex?

We explore love, attachment, attraction, psychology, relationships and social stigma, while hearing directly from people who experience objectophilia themselves.

If you've ever wondered what objectophilia is, why some people fall in love with objects, or what it's like to be in a relationship with something inanimate, this episode takes you inside a fascinating and unexpected world.

Listen to The StickyBeak: She’s in Love With a Roller Coaster: The People Who Fall in Love With Objects.

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.

Faces painted black and white. Faygo flying through the air. A chant of “woop woop” echoing through the crowd. But beyond the chaos and the headlines lies a subculture built on belonging, identity, and community.

In this episode of The StickyBeak, Monika O’Hanlon dives into the misunderstood world of Juggalos — exploring the origins of Insane Clown Posse, the mythos of the Dark Carnival, the infamous FBI gang classification, and what it really means to be part of “The Family.”

Featuring firsthand perspectives from within the scene, this is a curious, compassionate look at a culture often reduced to stereotypes — and what it reveals about outsiders, stigma, and finding connection in unexpected places.

🎧 Whoop whoop… this one goes deeper than the paint.

Thanks to Mack & Ezmeral'a for sharing their experiences. You can find them on Instagram here:

Mack: @mrmakanhoes

Ezmeral'a: @juggalo.lita

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 clients — and men become the product?

In this episode of The StickyBeak, Monika O’Hanlon goes behind the scenes of Her Confidant, Australia’s first male escort agency, founded by Anna Grosman.

While conversations about sex work often focus on female sex workers, male escorts and the women who hire them offer a fascinating and rarely explored perspective. Through Anna’s story, we explore female sexuality, male escorts, intimacy, emotional connection, loneliness, pleasure and the changing dynamics of sex work.

What are women actually paying for when they hire a male escort? Is it sex, companionship, confidence, intimacy — or something else entirely?

With warmth and curiosity, this episode explores the realities of male escorting and sex work in Australia, as well as the stigma and double standards that can surround women’s sexual desire.

This is a conversation about sex, intimacy, power, loneliness and what happens when women are finally given permission to be the ones doing the choosing.

Note: This episode is told largely from a heteronormative perspective. Monika acknowledges the gaps and would love to explore women-on-women pleasure, queer sex work and LGBTQIA+ experiences of intimacy in a future episode.

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.

What if one of the most recognisable faces in first aid was based on a real person?

In this episode of The StickyBeak, we’re diving into the surprisingly strange and fascinating story behind Resusci Anne, the CPR training mannequin used to teach generations of people how to perform cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR).

You might know her as the “resuscitation doll” or the woman behind the famous “The Resuscitation Man” story — but the origins of her mysterious face go somewhere much darker.

From a mysterious death in 19th-century France to the development of the CPR training mannequin we know today, this is the story of how an unidentified woman became one of the most reproduced faces in the world.

It’s a sad story, but there’s something strangely beautiful about what came from it: a face associated with death ultimately became a symbol of saving lives.

So, take a deep breath… and let’s get into the story of Resusci Anne.

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 if your most meaningful romantic or sexual relationship wasn't with another person—but with yourself?

In this episode of The StickyBeak, Mon explores autosexuality and autoromanticism—identities where romantic or sexual attraction is directed inward rather than toward others. While these identities are often misunderstood, they offer a fascinating perspective on love, intimacy, relationships and self-connection.

You'll hear from Ghia Vitale, who shares what it really means to be autosexual and autoromantic, what self-romance looks like in everyday life, and the misconceptions they've encountered. Together, we explore how these identities challenge conventional ideas about attraction, sexuality, self-love and human connection.

Whether you've never heard of autosexuality before or you're curious to learn more, this conversation offers an open-minded and thought-provoking look at one of the lesser-known identities on the sexuality spectrum.

In this episode:

• What autosexuality and autoromanticism mean
• Common myths and misconceptions
• What self-romance actually looks like
• How attraction, intimacy and relationships can take many different forms
• Why understanding diverse identities helps us rethink love and connection

If you enjoy conversations that challenge assumptions and explore the fascinating diversity of human experience, be sure to follow The StickyBeak and leave a rating or review—it helps more curious listeners discover the show.

Autosexuality 101: http://www.quailbellmagazine.com/the-real-20/autosexuality-101-the-autosexual-cheat-sheet

A massive thank you to Ghia Vitale.

Keep up with her happenings on Instagram @angel0fthe0dd

Check out her website: https://angeloftheodd.com

Quail Bell Magazine: http://www.quailbellmagazine.com

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.

Salt is something most of us sprinkle on our chips without giving it a second thought. But what if I told you this humble white crystal helped shape empires, start wars, build trade routes and change the course of human history?

In this episode of The StickyBeak, we're diving into the fascinating history of salt and uncovering why it was once one of the most valuable commodities on Earth. Long before supermarkets and table salt, entire civilizations depended on it for survival, food preservation and wealth. In some places, people were even paid in salt, giving rise to the word "salary."

From ancient Egypt and the Roman Empire to medieval Europe and beyond, discover how salt influenced exploration, economics, politics and everyday life. It's one of those everyday ingredients hiding an extraordinary story.

If you love weird history, surprising facts and the hidden stories behind ordinary things, this episode is for you.

In this episode:

• Why salt became one of history's most valuable resources
• How salt helped build powerful civilizations
• The surprising origin of the word "salary"
• Why nations fought over salt
• How this everyday ingredient changed the world forever
• 
  

If you enjoyed this episode, don't forget to follow The StickyBeak and leave a rating or review—it really helps more curious listeners discover the show.

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 is about to go 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 take to become India's first and only female sumo wrestler?

This week on The StickyBeak, we're revisiting one of the podcast's most memorable early episodes: an inspiring conversation with Hetal Dave, the trailblazer who broke barriers to become India's first female sumo wrestler.

Growing up in Mumbai, Hetal pursued a sport traditionally dominated by men and went on to represent India on the international stage. Her remarkable journey of determination, resilience and challenging cultural expectations has inspired countless people—and even became the subject of a biopic.

In this episode, Hetal shares what it was like to enter the world of sumo wrestling, the obstacles she faced, how she trained, and what it means to be a pioneer in one of the world's oldest sports.

As Hetal joins us from the heart of Mumbai, you may hear a little background noise throughout the conversation—but we think it adds to the atmosphere and makes you feel like you're right there with us.

If you're fascinated by unusual sports, inspiring women, world cultures, or incredible true stories, this is an episode you won't want to miss.

Follow Hetal Dave:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sumodidii/

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 is about to go 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.