American Hysteria

Latest Episodes:

ALIEN ABDUCTIONS pt. 2 Dec 20, 2021

Show notes

For part two of our series, we will look at skeptics' explanations for the alien abduction phenomenon to see what factors they believe may be creating these visions: repressed memory hypnotherapy, sleep paralysis, and cultural fears. We will also ask what deep human needs may be expressing themselves through these stories of 21st century secular supernaturalized trauma.

Become a Patron today to get access to our follow-up talk show 'Hysteria Home Companion' and much more

Check out Guide to the Unknown on Apple Podcasts

Head to truebill.com/americanhysteria to start saving money today

American Hysteria is written, produced, and hosted by Chelsey Weber-Smith

Sound design by Clear Commo Studios

Co-Researched by Riley Smith

Produced by Miranda Zickler

Voice acting by Will Rogers

Follow American Hysteria on social media:

Twitter: @AmerHysteria

Instagram: @AmericanHysteriaPodcast

Find our merch at americanhysteria.com

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ALIEN ABDUCTIONS pt. 1 Dec 13, 2021

Show notes

For part one of our two-part series, we will learn about the lives of some of the most influential abductees and the people who've studied them in order to set the stage for part two, in which we will use every intellectual tool at our humble human disposal to try to better understand what on earth, or off of earth, is going on.

Become a Patron today to get access to our follow-up talk show 'Hysteria Home Companion' and much more

Head to truebill.com/americanhysteria to start saving money today

American Hysteria is written, produced, and hosted by Chelsey Weber-Smith

Sound design by Clear Commo Studios

Co-Researched by Riley Smith

Produced by Miranda Zickler

Voice acting by Will Rogers

Follow American Hysteria on social media:

Twitter: @AmerHysteria

Instagram: @AmericanHysteriaPodcast

Find our merch at americanhysteria.com

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Polyamorous Cult of Ayn Rand: 'Hysteria Home Companion' Patreon Sneak Peak Dec 02, 2021

Show notes

Here's a little more information about our new Patron's-only talk show Hysteria Home Companion, in which producer Miranda Zickler and I dive deeper into the show's current topic and share all the gossip from the cutting room floor as well as a little more of our personal experience with the whole self esteem thing. Our most recent episode focuses on the strange circle that surrounded writer and conservative cult leader Ayn Rand, how she used philosophy to get what she wanted, and like many insufferable people, she only wanted what she couldn't have. We've all known an Ayn Rand.

Head to patreon.com/americanhysteria to get access to Hysteria Home Companion and much more!

Original music by Emily Westman, check out her work at emilywestmanmusic.com

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Am I Good? With 'You Are Good' Podcast Hosts Sarah Marshall and Alex Steed Nov 22, 2021

Show notes

Sarah Marshall and Alex Steed host the feelings/movie podcast 'You Are Good'. On this episode, we talk about our own self-esteem, the movies that made us, and break down the secular myths we've created. Sarah is also the host of 'You’re Wrong About', so expect lots of Satanic Panic content too.

Become a Patron, a new 'Hysteria Home Companion' is out Monday

Follow @youaregoodpod on twitter and Instagram

Head to truebill.com/americanhysteria to start saving money today

American Hysteria is written, produced, and hosted by Chelsey Weber-Smith

Sound design by Clear Commo Studios

Produced by Miranda Zickler

Follow American Hysteria on social media:

Twitter: @AmerHysteria

Instagram: @AmericanHysteriaPodcast

Find our merch at americanhysteria.com

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

THE SELF-ESTEEM MOVEMENT Nov 15, 2021

Show notes

In the late 1980s, a New Age America began telling children that they were special, that if they just believed in themselves all their dreams would come true. Not only that, but spiritual seekers and psychologists began making claims that programs in self-esteem could solve all our most pressing national issues, an idea soon supported by law and order conservatives as well. The value of self-esteem as a social savior has settled into our culture as an almost unquestioned truth, but what if it is all based on a lie? Today we follow the long journey of one charismatic leader who knew how to get both sides of the political spectrum onboard with his vision of utopia.

Become a Patron! to get access to our follow-up talk show 'Hysteria Home Companion'

Head to truebill.com/americanhysteria to start saving money today

American Hysteria is written, produced, and hosted by Chelsey Weber-Smith

Sound design by Clear Commo Studios

Co-Researched by Riley Smith

Produced by Miranda Zickler

Follow American Hysteria on social media:

Twitter: @AmerHysteria

Instagram: @AmericanHysteriaPodcast

Find our merch at americanhysteria.com

Check out Will Storr's book Selfie

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Context Clues: Get Rich Quick Nov 08, 2021

Show notes

This rerelease episode is about America's lifelong obsession with Get Rich Quick magical thinking. It will help us put into context next week's brand new episode called Self-Esteem and the magical thinking behind a movement that promised to solve all of America's ills, inside and out, based entirely on a lie.

To listen to Flash Forward, head to flashforwardpod.com or anywhere you get your podcasts!

To listen to Morbidology head to morbidology.com or anywhere you get your podcasts!

Become a Patron and support our show!

Follow American Hysteria on social media:

Twitter: @AmerHysteria

Instagram: @AmericanHysteriaPodcast

Find our merch at americanhysteria.com

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

NEW PATREON SHOW: Hysteria Home Companion Nov 01, 2021

Show notes

If you want to learn more about the topics covered on American Hysteria, subscribe to our Patreon talk show with myself and producer Miranda Zickler in which we gossip about all the juicy stuff left out of the episodes, share our own experiences with the content, and chat about what else we've been interested in this month. Today we reveal a little more about McKamey Manor and Russ McKamey, talk more on the institution of the haunted house and our own experiences with fear, give you our thoughts on the Elizabeth Holmes trial, and of course, much more.

Head to patreon.com/americanhysteria

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Haunting From the Heart with Renowned Scare Actor Shar Mayer Oct 25, 2021

Show notes

Today we talk to the wonderful Shar Mayer, a 45-year veteran of Scare Acting known in the haunt community as "The Mother of Monsters".

Become a Patron, 'Hysteria Home Companion' starts Monday

Learn more about Shar Mayer

Watch Haunters: The Art of the Scare

Check out Web Crawlers here

American Hysteria is written, produced, and hosted by Chelsey Weber-Smith

Sound design by Clear Commo Studios

Produced by Miranda Zickler

Follow American Hysteria on social media:

Twitter: @AmerHysteria

Instagram: @AmericanHysteriaPodcast

Find our merch at americanhysteria.com

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

HAUNTED ATTRACTIONS Oct 18, 2021

Show notes

Today we'll be talking about the fake-blood-covered history of Haunted Attractions, their raucous origins wrangling violent pranksters, the gory charity haunts that once ruled the scene, and the extreme iterations that still scandalize and fascinate the nation. We ask the burning question: Why do some of us love to be scared?

Become a Patron! 'Hysteria Home Companion' talk show coming this month!

American Hysteria is written, produced, and hosted by Chelsey Weber-Smith

Sound design by Clear Commo Studios

Produced by Miranda Zickler

Follow American Hysteria on social media:

Twitter: @AmerHysteria

Instagram: @AmericanHysteriaPodcast

Find our merch at americanhysteria.com

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Context Clues: Talking to the Dead Oct 11, 2021

Show notes

This ghostly re-release (with a new introduction) is here to help us fit next week's brand-new episode 'Haunted House Attractions' into a larger American haunted history. Re-listen or listen for the first time, you might be surprised by what the "other side" has to say.

Become a Patron and support our show!

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