The StickyBeak

What really happens when you die? It’s a question that’s puzzled humanity for centuries — and for the Hare Krishna movement (formally known as the International Society for Krishna Consciousness, or ISKCON), the answer is rooted in a deeply spiritual philosophy about the soul, karma, and reincarnation.

In this episode of The StickyBeak, Mon sits down with Bhakta Dasa, a Minister of Religion for ISKCON and a respected voice within the Vaisnava Hindu community, to explore the Hare Krishna perspective on life, death, and the afterlife.

Originally recorded for Mon’s 2020 series Dying with Mon, this conversation offers rare insight into Hare Krishna beliefs, the cycle of birth and rebirth, and how spiritual practice shapes the way devotees understand dying — and truly living.

Thank you to Bhakta Dasa for sitting down for a chat.

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 really happens when you carry a baby for someone else?

This week on The StickyBeak, we dive into the emotional, ethical, and legal realities of surrogacy — through the story of Yessenia, a U.S. surrogate and content creator. From medical risks and legal grey zones to celebrity surrogacy scandals and the ethics of creating families, we explore what it truly means to give birth for another person.

If surrogacy is done with care, consent, and love — should anyone else have a say?

A powerful and deeply personal look at the world of surrogacy, motherhood, and modern family-making.

Thank you to Yessenia 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 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.

Can you really live without food? Some people say yes. Followers of Breatharianism believe humans can survive on nothing but air, sunlight, and “life energy.” It’s a movement that blurs the line between spirituality and science—and sparks intense debate.

In this episode of The StickyBeak, Monika O’Hanlon speaks with Jerome Shaw, a Breatharian advocate, to uncover what truly drives this fascinating (and controversial) lifestyle. From ancient fasting traditions to modern wellness extremes, we explore the philosophy behind Breatharianism, why people believe in it, and the real dangers that come with giving up food entirely.

Monika also dives into the science of fasting, human nutrition, and belief itself—asking the big question: Can the mind really overcome biology?

Thank you to Jerome Shaw for taking the time to share his 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 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.

In the Victorian era, mourning wasn’t just an emotion — it was a way of life. From black veils and funeral etiquetteto hair jewellery and post-mortem photography, grief became an art form — and death, a thriving industry.

In this episode of The StickyBeak, Monika O’Hanlon dives into the darkly fascinating world of Victorian mourning culture — a time when death was public, ritualistic, and deeply personal.

Monika is joined by Al, a U.S.-based collector of Victorian mourning artifacts, who shares eerie insights into the era’s most curious traditions. Together, they uncover:

• Why Victorians were so obsessed with death and the afterlife
• The fear of being buried alive — and the strange inventions to prevent it
• The meaning behind mourning jewellery made from human hair
• How grief became both a fashion statement and a social expectation

From superstition to sentimentality, this episode explores how Victorian mourning rituals reveal more about life than death itself.

A HUGE thanks to Al for taking the time to have a chat. Follow her here:

INSTAGRAM: @al_curio

TIKTOK: @al_curio

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.

For centuries, the legend of Vagina Dentata—the “toothed vagina”—has terrified and fascinated cultures around the world. Tales of flesh-shredding femmes fatales and man-eating wombs aren’t just scary stories—they reveal deep truths about power, sexuality, fear, and control.

In this episode of The StickyBeak, we dive into the origins of Vagina Dentata, from ancient myths and cautionary folklore to its enduring presence in modern pop culture. Discover how this chilling legend has been used as both a warning and a metaphor, and uncover the hidden messages behind the myth.

Whether you’re a fan of folklore, feminist myth analysis, or just love a story with bite, this episode will leave you thinking—and maybe laughing—about the stories we tell about sex, power, and fear.

💀 Listen now and sink your teeth in!

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 now 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.

Herpes is one of the most common — and most misunderstood — sexually transmitted infections in the world. In Australia, around 1 in 8 sexually active adults has genital herpes… and the real number is likely much higher.

So why is there still so much shame and stigma around something so ordinary? And what does living with herpesactually look like today?

In this episode of The StickyBeak, I speak with Allie, a certified Herpes Coach and founder of Beyond Herpes, who helps people navigate diagnosis, disclosure, and dating with confidence.

Allie opens up about her own story — from getting herpes to transforming her experience into empowerment — and shares insight into what life with herpes is really like.

This episode is raw, informative, and empowering — whether you have herpes, know someone who does, or just want to replace fear with facts.

A huge thank you to Allie for her openness and wisdom.

You can find her work here 👇

🌐 Website: livebeyondherpes.com

📱 Instagram: @allie_beyond

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 now 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 this week’s episode, I sit down with Mark Gardener, AKA the “Accidental Exorcist.” Mark shares how he found himself in the unexpected world of exorcism, what his work entails, and the fascinating—and sometimes chilling—stories from his unique career.

As we touch on some heavier topics, including a discussion about suicide, if you're not feeling up to it, maybe skip this episode. And if you feel like you need to speak with a professional, get in touch with lifeline here: https://www.lifeline.org.au/

Whether you're a skeptic or a believer, this is an episode you won’t want to miss. Fun fact: Mark’s extraordinary story even inspired a movie!

Disclaimer: While we discuss intriguing claims in this episode, such as miraculous healings, I wasn’t able to find solid evidence to verify these. Keep an open mind, but approach these with curiosity and caution.

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 now 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.

There’s an hour of the day when cheaters creep in. A place where people go to chase their wildest desires. And an eight-second rule that can totally change the course of someone’s life—maybe even end it.

Today, we’re stepping inside one of Europe’s largest brothels with Catherine De Noire—a woman who’s seen it all. You might already recognize her from social media, where her posts have gone gangbusters, but now she’s pulling back the curtain on what really goes on behind closed doors.

We dive into:

🔥 What it’s actually like managing a high-end brothel

😱 The wildest client requests she’s ever received

⏳ The infamous 8-second rule and why it’s so important

... and SO much more.

Catherine is insightful, warm, and completely unfiltered—this is one episode you don’t want to miss!

Thank you so much to Catherine for taking the time to have a chat. Follow her here:

INSTAGRAM: @Catherine_de_noire

TIKTOK: @Kate.denoire

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 now 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.

This week on The StickyBeak we'r revisiting an episode with the one and only, Arron Jones, AKA The Rockstar Magician.

We cover everything from why Arron became a magician to how the magic industry works, as well as some pretty wild stories - on that note if there are kids around, I'd recommend wearing headphones or saving this episode for a bit later. This is truly a magical conversation, you're going to love it.

A HUGE thank you to Arron Jones for coming on the pod.

Follow him on socials here:

INSTAGRAM: @therockstarmagician

TIKTOK: @therockstarmagician

WEBSITE: arronjones.co.uk

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 now 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.

Things are getting a little spooky today, because we’re going to hear from a real life GHOST HUNTER! That’s right, I was lucky enough to chat with the lovely Lauren – who actually taught me so much. She explains things really well and has also documented some pretty creepy situations. 

Find Lauren on social media here...

INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/hauntinglauren/

YOUTUBE: https://www.youtube.com/@LaurenIsDawsomex

You can also find the company Lauren is a guide for, Haunted Heritage HERE.

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 now 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.