Secretly Incredibly Fascinating

Alex Schmidt is joined by bestselling author Jason Pargin (new novel "If This Book Exists, You’re In The Wrong Universe") for a look at why barbed wire is secretly incredibly fascinating. Visit http://sifpod.fun/ for research sources, handy links, and this week's bonus episode.

This is the bonus show for Episode 62! (Halloween Stores) Alex Schmidt and Jason Pargin explore the obviously incredibly fascinating topic of the U.S. and Canada's favorite Halloween urban legend: what it is, why it's a myth, and how it became one of the most persistent beliefs in North America. Originally released Sept 27th, 2021, exclusively for patrons at http://sifpod.fun/. Research sources for Alex's new intro: the journal Science: "Fainting From Fentanyl Exposure? Nope." https://www.science.org/content/blog-post/fainting-fentanyl-exposure-nope CBS News: "Sen. Chuck Schumer warns drug dealers are pushing rainbow fentanyl to children" https://www.cbsnews.com/newyork/news/sen-chuck-schumer-warns-drug-dealers-pushing-rainbow-fentanyl-to-children/ clip of scaremongering on Fox News: https://twitter.com/justinbaragona/status/1574878436211957783 example of a scaremongering article, from Newsweek: https://www.newsweek.com/rainbow-fentanyl-targeted-children-lego-box-halloween-1749492 Here's a piece from The Guardian, published April 2022, covering one form the actual fentanyl crisis is taking: https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2022/apr/23/san-francisco-homelessness-street-team-fentanyl Source links for the original bonus episode: https://www.patreon.com/posts/bonus-show-62-of-56574011

Alex Schmidt is joined by comedians Caitlin Gill (stand-up album 'Major.', shirt store GuaranteeShirts.com) and Blake Wexler (stand-up album 'A Lifetime Of Laughter', podcast 'Blake's Takes For God's Sakes') for a look at why cardboard is secretly incredibly fascinating. Visit http://sifpod.fun/ for research sources, handy links, and this week's bonus episode.

Alex Schmidt is joined by comedy writer/podcaster Katie Goldin (‘Creature Feature’ podcast, @ProBirdRights) for a look at why eels are secretly incredibly fascinating. Visit http://sifpod.fun/ for research sources, handy links, and this week's bonus episode. (Alex's podcast hosting service requires a minimum of 5 characters per episode title, so that's why this episode's title has 1 exclamation point)

Alex Schmidt is joined by comedian Siena East ('NDND' Youtube channel, UCB) and comedian/podcaster Rivers Langley ('The Goods From The Woods' podcast) for a look at why silica gel packets are secretly incredibly fascinating. Visit http://sifpod.fun/ for research sources, handy links, and this week's bonus episode.

Alex Schmidt is joined by writer/musician Sadie Dupuis (new poetry collection 'Cry Perfume', bands Speedy Ortiz and Sad13) and comedian/podcaster Caitlin Durante ('The Bechdel Cast' podcast) for a look at why drive-thrus are secretly incredibly fascinating. Visit http://sifpod.fun/ for research sources, handy links, and this week's bonus episode

Alex Schmidt is joined by comedians/podcasters Cody Johnston and Katy Stoll ('Some More News' YouTube channel, 'Even More News' podcast) for a look at why Lorem Ipsum is secretly incredibly fascinating. Visit http://sifpod.fun/ for research sources, handy links, and this week's bonus episode..

Alex Schmidt is joined by comedy writer/podcaster Andrew Ti (‘Yo, Is This Racist?’, Sub-Optimal Pods) for a look at why surnames are secretly incredibly fascinating. Visit http://sifpod.fun/ for research sources, handy links, and this week's bonus episode

Alex Schmidt is joined by comedy writers/podcasters Robert Brockway and Seanbaby (1-900-HOT-DOG) for a look at why barcodes are secretly incredibly fascinating. Visit http://sifpod.fun/ for research sources, handy links, and this week's bonus episode.

Alex Schmidt is joined by comedy writer Bill Oakley (The Simpsons, 'Steamed Hams Society') for a look at why American cheese is secretly incredibly fascinating. Visit http://sifpod.fun/ for research sources, handy links, and this week's bonus episode.