In 2014, an urban legend formed around a cartoon cat chatbot when rumors spread across social media that a child predator was operating the app, actually visible in the reflection of her big blue eyes. We'll look at the moral panic that cropped up around Talking Angela, and take a look at how urban legends are often a patchwork of clumsy crowdsourced creativity taken far too seriously.Become a Patron to support our show and get early ad-free episodes and bonus contentAmerican Hysteria is written, produced, and hosted by Chelsey Weber-SmithSound design by Clear Commo StudiosCo-written by Riley Swedelius-SmithCo-edited by Miranda ZicklerVoice acting by Will Rogers Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

For this episode we chat about the sensational tales of cyberspace, from Slenderman to the Momo suicide game, with the guys behind the new podcast Digital Folklore, an immersive experience that explores online culture, internet monsters, memes, and urban legends as an accessible and entertaining way to learn about academic folklore concepts. We'll get deep into what these new stories tell us about ourselves, American society, and the wilderness of the modern internet.Subscribe to Digital Folklore!Become a Patron to support our show and get early ad-free episodes and bonus contentAmerican Hysteria is produced and hosted by Chelsey Weber-SmithEdited by Miranda ZicklerSound design by Clear Commo Studios Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Nope, it's not an urban legend! Today we are talking to journalist and filmmaker Robin Washington who, like a huge number of boys in high school between the 1920s and 1970s, was required to swim naked during gym class. Not only has Robin created documentaries like the PBS film You Don't Have to Ride Jim Crow!, he is also a founder of the Alliance of Black Jews. But Robin is here to talk to us specifically about the trauma that was his 1970s high school swim class and a shocking experience once shared by millions of boys but long forgotten by the rest of America.Learn more about Robin's work at robinwashington.comBecome a Patron to support our show and get early ad-free episodes and bonus contentAmerican Hysteria is produced and hosted by Chelsey Weber-SmithEdited by Miranda ZicklerSound design by Clear Commo Studios Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In 1974, running naked in public became a major fad led by students on college campuses across the nation. This provocative prank was surprisingly well-received, considered a playful call back to the college fads of yore like the riotous panty raids that burned across campuses in the 1950s. We'll look at the most outrageous moments from these crazes and see how streaking was used to discredit the political actions of students protesting against the Vietnam War and in the name of civil rights.Become a Patron to support our show and get early ad-free episodes and bonus contentFollow American Hysteria on social media:Twitter: @AmerHysteriaInstagram: @AmericanHysteriaPodcastFind our merch at americanhysteria.comAmerican Hysteria is written, produced, and hosted by Chelsey Weber-SmithCo-researched and co-edited by Riley Swedelius-SmithCo-produced and co-edited by Miranda ZicklerVoice acting by Will RogersSound design by Clear Commo Studios Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This episode will give context for our upcoming topic called The Streaking Craze using excerpts from previous shows including:Terrorism Pt. 1Mind ControlTeenage SexFor ad-free, early episodes and bonus content became a Patron at patreon.com/americanhysteriaThis episode was co-produced by Riley Swedelius-SmithEdited by Miranda ZicklerProduced and hosted by Chelsey Weber-Smith Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Tickle Me Elmo, Beanie Babies, Cabbage Patch Kids, Pokemon cards. These trendy toys all inspired parental parking lot brawls and suburban shadow economies. For our Christmas hangover, we revisit the outrageous toy riots that marked the 80s, 90s, and 2000s, many of which flared up around the holiday season. Includes a little interview with my Grannie about her experience securing a Tickle Me Elmo AT ALL COSTS.Become a Patron of our show! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Because so many Hallmark writers and directors also make horror movies, I called in podcasters Sarah Marshall and Alex Steed of 'You're Wrong About' and 'You Are Good' to discuss the similarities between these two seemingly polar opposite genres.Subscribe to You Are Good and You're Wrong AboutBecome a Patron to support our show and get early ad-free episodes and bonus contentFollow American Hysteria on social media:Twitter: @AmerHysteriaInstagram: @AmericanHysteriaPodcastFind our merch at americanhysteria.comAmerican Hysteria is written, produced, and hosted by Chelsey Weber-SmithProduced by Miranda ZicklerSound design by Clear Commo StudiosHosted by Chelsey Weber-Smith Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

They usually go something like this: A cranky career woman from the big city who has lost the true meaning of Christmas arrives in a small town where she falls in love with a handsome handyman or baker or Christmas tree farmer and together they vanquish whatever big business force threatens the idyllic community. The Christmas spirit leads her to let go of her own ambitions and embrace a more traditional lifestyle and of course, someone's dad is always Santa. Sound familiar? We will explore the history of Hallmark, the formula that makes these cheesy productions so successful, the Christmas Movie Wars of the last few years, as well as the controversies over diversity and "family-friendly" entertainment.Become a Patron to support our show and get early ad-free episodes and bonus contentFollow American Hysteria on social media:Twitter: @AmerHysteriaInstagram: @AmericanHysteriaPodcastFind our merch at americanhysteria.comAmerican Hysteria is written, produced, and hosted by Chelsey Weber-SmithCo-produced and co-edited by Miranda ZicklerCo-researched and co-edited by Riley SmithSound design by Clear Commo Studios Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This episode gives context to our upcoming series on Hallmark Christmas Movies using excerpts from previous topics including The War on Christmas, The Gay Agenda, and Suburbia.Listen to The War on ChristmasListen to The Gay AgendaListen to SuburbiaBecome a Patron at patreon.com/americanhysteriaThis Context Clues produced by Chelsey Weber-Smith and Riley Smith Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Colin Dickey is one of American Hysteria's biggest influences—our episodes called Talking to the Dead and Alien Abductions relied on his books Ghostland: An American History in Haunted Places and The Unidentified: Mythical Monsters, Alien Encounters, and Our Obsession with the Unexplained. His newest piece is called Land of Delusion and it explores two new bizarre conspiracy theories that center around secret societies and buried histories. We’ll talk about the conspiratorial tales we keep telling and how we address this increasingly disturbing Land of Delusion.Try Scribd now to get Colin Dickey's Land of DelusionFind more of Colin's work hereJoin our Patreon!Produced by Miranda ZicklerSound design by Clear Commo StudiosHosted by Chelsey Weber-Smith Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices