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Ding Dong Darkness Time — Society & Culture
Ding Dong Darkness Time

Join author Allison Dickson as she puts her fascination with the weird, morbid, and macabre out on the airwaves with a wide array of topics ranging from the arts to history to true crime. Featuring a mix of guest hosts and solo content, all delivered in a fun and engaging way, Ding Dong Darkness Time is perfect for people who like to know a little bit about a lot of things.

Copyright: © 2022 Ding Dong Darkness Time

Latest Episodes:

27: Amway is a Scam, Bae: The Cult of Multi-Level Marketing Companies -- Part 2 May 18, 2023

Show notes

In the second part of their dive into MLMs, Allison and Beverly pull two more beefy deceivers out of the hat: Amway and Primerica.
Whereas a lot of MLMs set their hooks in women, particularly stay-at-home moms looking to make a quick buck, these companies tend to have a much broader net, and when it comes to Amway in particular, you'll find yourself stuck in a genuine cult. We explain all the reasons why.
And with Primerica, we learn that just saying you're not an MLM doesn't mean jack squat when you actually read the fine print. And you can find better, cheaper life insurance elsewhere.
Stay tuned for Part 3!
Additional Info:
Amway Links:
https://www.cs.cmu.edu/~dst/Amway/AUS/cultism.htm
https://www.moneyaftergraduation.com/amway-is-a-pyramid-scheme/
http://marriedtoanambot.blogspot.com/2012/03/how-to-be-good-amway-cult-leader.html
https://www.reddit.com/r/MLMRecovery/comments/ia4ogo/amwaywwdb/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=ios_app&utm_name=iossmf
https://www.motherjones.com/politics/1998/11/tough-sell/
Primerica Links:
https://www.finance-guy.net/streetonomic/primerica-review?fbclid=IwAR2zhMSuCaOMSMnpyw2GnhVi_rcAjHd7pbAIXTeZ_bdaHrDd9LJgmG731tc
https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1475922/000156459021009754/pri-10k_20201231.htm?fbclid=IwAR2W8g9gfZdXqvR666DSxdcp-JG06KtkE7G1jmLLdYs-hJ5zfWMTa8PWFe8

Show Credits:
Graphics -- Nathaniel Dickson: http://ndickson.com
Music -- Spencer Morelock, Ken Dickson
Ding Dong Darkness Time Media:
Twitter: @dddarknesstime
Instagram: dddarknesstime
Gmail: dddarknesstime@gmail.com

33: Pyramid Worship: The Cult of Multi-Level Marketing Companies -- Part 1 May 09, 2023

Show notes

In this first of a multi-part series, Allison and her pal Beverly start a journey of revelation and personal reminiscence through the shady world of multi-level marketing companies, beginning with a couple of the OGs from that world: Avon and Tupperware. These brands are highly nostalgic and carry a lot of cultural weight, but they are only the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the deceptive marketing practices, lost money, damaged relationships, and ruined lives that MLMs are largely known for.
Additional Info:
Tupperware Info
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tupperware

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brownie_Wise

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Multi-level_marketing

FTC and Other Links
https://www.ftc.gov/sites/default/files/documents/public_comments/trade-regulation-rule-disclosure-requirements-and-prohibitions-concerning-business-opportunities-ftc.r511993-00008%C2%A0/00008-57281.pdf

https://www.ftc.gov/sites/default/files/documents/public_comments/trade-regulation-rule-disclosure-requirements-and-prohibitions-concerning-business-opportunities-ftc.r511993-00017%C2%A0/00017-57317.pdf

https://www.ftc.gov/sites/default/files/documents/public_comments/business-opportunity-rule-535221-00006/535221-00006.pdf

https://www.thebalancemoney.com/business-is-an-mlm-scam-1794756
Elle's Younique (#Poonique) Experience
https://ellebeaublog.com/poonique/
Travelling Jezebel's Avon Deep Dive
https://travellingjezebel.com/is-avon-a-pyramid-scheme-a-deep-dive-into-avon/?fbclid=IwAR2dNuvyksw7u9L5Luk_PL4-XqNplagF79HZjhVo3F0zo5jfjoY6-gBRTyM

Show Credits:
Graphics -- Nathaniel Dickson: http://ndickson.com
Music -- Spencer Morelock, Ken Dickson
Ding Dong Darkness Time Media:
Twitter: @dddarknesstime
Instagram: dddarknesstime
Gmail: dddarknesstime@gmail.com

26: Pyramid Worship: The Cult of Multi-Level Marketing Companies -- Part 1 May 09, 2023

Show notes

In this first of a multi-part series, Allison and her pal Beverly start a journey of revelation and personal reminiscence through the shady world of multi-level marketing companies, beginning with a couple of the OGs from that world: Avon and Tupperware. These brands are highly nostalgic and carry a lot of cultural weight, but they are only the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the deceptive marketing practices, lost money, damaged relationships, and ruined lives that MLMs are largely known for.
Additional Info:
Tupperware Info
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tupperware

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brownie_Wise

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Multi-level_marketing

FTC and Other Links
https://www.ftc.gov/sites/default/files/documents/public_comments/trade-regulation-rule-disclosure-requirements-and-prohibitions-concerning-business-opportunities-ftc.r511993-00008%C2%A0/00008-57281.pdf

https://www.ftc.gov/sites/default/files/documents/public_comments/trade-regulation-rule-disclosure-requirements-and-prohibitions-concerning-business-opportunities-ftc.r511993-00017%C2%A0/00017-57317.pdf

https://www.ftc.gov/sites/default/files/documents/public_comments/business-opportunity-rule-535221-00006/535221-00006.pdf

https://www.thebalancemoney.com/business-is-an-mlm-scam-1794756
Elle's Younique (#Poonique) Experience
https://ellebeaublog.com/poonique/
Travelling Jezebel's Avon Deep Dive
https://travellingjezebel.com/is-avon-a-pyramid-scheme-a-deep-dive-into-avon/?fbclid=IwAR2dNuvyksw7u9L5Luk_PL4-XqNplagF79HZjhVo3F0zo5jfjoY6-gBRTyM

Show Credits:
Graphics -- Nathaniel Dickson: http://ndickson.com
Music -- Spencer Morelock, Ken Dickson
Ding Dong Darkness Time Media:
Twitter: @dddarknesstime
Instagram: dddarknesstime
Gmail: dddarknesstime@gmail.com

32: Ding Dong Movie Time: Apocalypse Now and the Hearts of Darkness Apr 26, 2023

Show notes

In 1979, Francis Ford Coppola released Apocalypse Now, his stunning, surreal Vietnam war-fueled adaptation of Joseph Conrad's 1899 book, The Heart of Darkness. But even more harrowing than the events onscreen were the ones happening behind the camera as over a year of filming began to take its toll on everyone involved. Drugs, nervous breakdowns, monsoons, a near deadly heart attack... and that's only the beginning. Step aboard the boat, Ding Dongs. This journey is taking us a place where only madness dwells.
Joining Allison for the discussion, and bringing his keen insights, is the always amazing Josh Bermont from the Press Play and Scream podcast.
Additional Info:
The Press Play and Scream Podcast
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/press-play-and-scream/id1589942694

About Apocalypse Now
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hearts_of_Darkness:_A_Filmmaker%27s_Apocalypse
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0078788/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1

Show Credits:
Graphics -- Nathaniel Dickson: http://ndickson.com
Music -- Spencer Morelock, Ken Dickson
Ding Dong Darkness Time Media:
Twitter: @dddarknesstime
Instagram: dddarknesstime
Gmail: dddarknesstime@gmail.com

25: Ding Dong Movie Time: Apocalypse Now and the Hearts of Darkness Apr 26, 2023

Show notes

In 1979, Francis Ford Coppola released Apocalypse Now, his stunning, surreal Vietnam war-fueled adaptation of Joseph Conrad's 1899 book, The Heart of Darkness. But even more harrowing than the events onscreen were the ones happening behind the camera as over a year of filming began to take its toll on everyone involved. Drugs, nervous breakdowns, monsoons, a near deadly heart attack... and that's only the beginning. Step aboard the boat, Ding Dongs. This journey is taking us a place where only madness dwells.
Joining Allison for the discussion, and bringing his keen insights, is the always amazing Josh Bermont from the Press Play and Scream podcast.
Additional Info:
The Press Play and Scream Podcast
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/press-play-and-scream/id1589942694

About Apocalypse Now
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hearts_of_Darkness:_A_Filmmaker%27s_Apocalypse
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0078788/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1

Show Credits:
Graphics -- Nathaniel Dickson: http://ndickson.com
Music -- Spencer Morelock, Ken Dickson
Ding Dong Darkness Time Media:
Twitter: @dddarknesstime
Instagram: dddarknesstime
Gmail: dddarknesstime@gmail.com

31: Ten Countries, Ten Mysteries: International True Crime -- Part 2 of 2 Apr 20, 2023

Show notes

We're wrapping up our global tour of the Top 10 Ding Dong Countries by bringing you a mystery from the final five. What are they? Well... we'll leave you to listen and find out, but they do all have one thing in common: GERMANY IS EVERYWHERE.
This episode is bringing you Van Gogh (murder or suicide?), a possible cryptic code to a mysterious homicide (YOGTZE), a pair of wicked coin heists, the possible identification of the Somerton Man, and a mysterious woman's skeleton in a nightmarish tree.
Pack your bags, Ding Dongs. This is gonna be one helluva sojourn.
Additional Info:
Bella in the Wych Elm:
https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/news/midlands-news/revealed-after-75-years-face-14329271
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Who_put_Bella_in_the_Wych_Elm%3F
YOGTZE: The Baffling Case of Gunther Stoll
https://www.historicmysteries.com/gunther-stoll/
Vincent Van Gogh: Murder or Suicide?
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Death_of_Vincent_van_Gogh
https://www.vanityfair.com/culture/2014/12/vincent-van-gogh-murder-mystery
The Toonie Truck Heist of 1996
https://www.readersdigest.ca/culture/canadas-greatest-unsolved-mysteries/
https://www.cbc.ca/archives/the-day-thieves-drove-off-with-1-5-million-brand-new-toonies-1.5647971 https://www.ctvnews.ca/canada/a-brief-incomplete-history-of-strange-canadian-industrial-thefts-1.4297601?cache=yes%3FautoPlay%3Dtrue

The saga of Canada's stolen million-dollar coin

https://macleans.ca/economy/money-economy/the-saga-of-canadas-stolen-million-dollar-coin/
Somerton Man: Australia's most enduring mystery... solved?
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Somerton_Man
Astonishing Legends podcast: https://www.astonishinglegends.com/

Original four part series (Ep. 33-36) from 2017
Follow up episode (Ep. 239) from August, 2022

Show Credits:
Graphics -- Nathaniel Dickson: http://ndickson.com
Music -- Spencer Morelock, Ken Dickson
Ding Dong Darkness Time Media:
Twitter: @dddarknesstime
Instagram: dddarknesstime
Gmail: dddarknesstime@gmail.com

24: The German Connection: 10 Countries, 10 Mysteries -- Part 2 of 2 Apr 19, 2023

Show notes

We're wrapping up our global tour of the Top 10 Ding Dong Countries by bringing you a mystery from the final five. What are they? Well... we'll leave you to listen and find out, but they do all have one thing in common: GERMANY IS EVERYWHERE.
This episode is bringing you Van Gogh (murder or suicide?), a possible cryptic code to a mysterious homicide (YOGTZE), a pair of wicked coin heists, the possible identification of the Somerton Man, and a mysterious woman's skeleton in a nightmarish tree.
Pack your bags, Ding Dongs. This is gonna be one helluva sojourn.
Additional Info:
Bella in the Wych Elm:
https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/news/midlands-news/revealed-after-75-years-face-14329271
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Who_put_Bella_in_the_Wych_Elm%3F
YOGTZE: The Baffling Case of Gunther Stoll
https://www.historicmysteries.com/gunther-stoll/
Vincent Van Gogh: Murder or Suicide?
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Death_of_Vincent_van_Gogh
https://www.vanityfair.com/culture/2014/12/vincent-van-gogh-murder-mystery
The Toonie Truck Heist of 1996
https://www.readersdigest.ca/culture/canadas-greatest-unsolved-mysteries/
https://www.cbc.ca/archives/the-day-thieves-drove-off-with-1-5-million-brand-new-toonies-1.5647971 https://www.ctvnews.ca/canada/a-brief-incomplete-history-of-strange-canadian-industrial-thefts-1.4297601?cache=yes%3FautoPlay%3Dtrue

The saga of Canada's stolen million-dollar coin

https://macleans.ca/economy/money-economy/the-saga-of-canadas-stolen-million-dollar-coin/
Somerton Man: Australia's most enduring mystery... solved?
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Somerton_Man
Astonishing Legends podcast: https://www.astonishinglegends.com/

Original four part series (Ep. 33-36) from 2017
Follow up episode (Ep. 239) from August, 2022

Show Credits:
Graphics -- Nathaniel Dickson: http://ndickson.com
Music -- Spencer Morelock, Ken Dickson
Ding Dong Darkness Time Media:
Twitter: @dddarknesstime
Instagram: dddarknesstime
Gmail: dddarknesstime@gmail.com

30: Ten Countries, Ten Mysteries: International True Crime Part 1 of 2 Apr 13, 2023

Show notes

As promised when we celebrated the Top 10 American listener cities by bringing you an interesting mystery from each one, Allison and Chris are back to deliver 10 mysteries from the show's top listener countries!
No passport needed for this epic journey. But you may want to bring a coat. It's a little chilly in some of these locales...
Additional Info:
The Trude Espås Case: The Unsolved Geiranger Murder Mystery
https://www.lifeinnorway.net/trude-espas-geiranger-mystery/
https://www.reddit.com/r/UnresolvedMysteries/comments/i8gpjz/the_20yearold_was_found_raped_strangled_and/
https://www.world-today-news.com/the-police-found-rotten-clothes-in-the-trude-espas-case/
SKRIM - a Scandinavian true crime podcast, Episode 043: Trude Espås

Bog bodies: A 2,000 year old unsolved mystery
https://www.bbc.com/travel/article/20161014-a-2000-year-old-unsolved-mystery
https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/europe-bog-bodies-reveal-secrets-180962770/

Steytlerville monster: The Manbatpig mystery
https://weekinweird.com/2011/05/11/shape-shifting-monster-terrorizes-town/
https://roadtravel1.wordpress.com/2011/05/30/shape-shifter-in-the-karoo/ https://www.skeptophilia.com/2011/04/manbatpig.html

The Sanby Borg Massacre
https://www.nationalgeographic.com/history/history-magazine/article/can-archaeologists-solve-swedens-1500-year-old-murder-mystery
https://www.nationalgeographic.com/history/article/dna-study-ancient-massacre-victims-raises-more-questions-answers
Peter Bergmann: The Man Who Didn't Exist
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_Bergmann_case

Show Credits:
Graphics -- Nathaniel Dickson: http://ndickson.com
Music -- Spencer Morelock, Ken Dickson
Ding Dong Darkness Time Media:
Twitter: @dddarknesstime
Instagram: dddarknesstime
Gmail: dddarknesstime@gmail.com

23: A Love Letter to Our International Listeners! 10 Countries, 10 Mysteries: Part 1 of 2 Apr 13, 2023

Show notes

As promised when we celebrated the Top 10 American listener cities by bringing you an interesting mystery from each one, Allison and Chris are back to deliver 10 mysteries from the show's top listener countries!
No passport needed for this epic journey. But you may want to bring a coat. It's a little chilly in some of these locales...
Additional Info:
The Trude Espås Case: The Unsolved Geiranger Murder Mystery
https://www.lifeinnorway.net/trude-espas-geiranger-mystery/
https://www.reddit.com/r/UnresolvedMysteries/comments/i8gpjz/the_20yearold_was_found_raped_strangled_and/
https://www.world-today-news.com/the-police-found-rotten-clothes-in-the-trude-espas-case/
SKRIM - a Scandinavian true crime podcast, Episode 043: Trude Espås

Bog bodies: A 2,000 year old unsolved mystery
https://www.bbc.com/travel/article/20161014-a-2000-year-old-unsolved-mystery
https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/europe-bog-bodies-reveal-secrets-180962770/

Steytlerville monster: The Manbatpig mystery
https://weekinweird.com/2011/05/11/shape-shifting-monster-terrorizes-town/
https://roadtravel1.wordpress.com/2011/05/30/shape-shifter-in-the-karoo/ https://www.skeptophilia.com/2011/04/manbatpig.html

The Sanby Borg Massacre
https://www.nationalgeographic.com/history/history-magazine/article/can-archaeologists-solve-swedens-1500-year-old-murder-mystery
https://www.nationalgeographic.com/history/article/dna-study-ancient-massacre-victims-raises-more-questions-answers
Peter Bergmann: The Man Who Didn't Exist
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_Bergmann_case

Show Credits:
Graphics -- Nathaniel Dickson: http://ndickson.com
Music -- Spencer Morelock, Ken Dickson
Ding Dong Darkness Time Media:
Twitter: @dddarknesstime
Instagram: dddarknesstime
Gmail: dddarknesstime@gmail.com

29: Ding Dong Movie Time: The Descent Apr 04, 2023

Show notes

This week, Allison and Chris descend into a discussion of one of their favorite horror films of all time, the 2005 subterranean masterpiece, The Descent.
But is it really a movie about a caving adventure gone horribly awry... or is it a home invasion story?
Also, which ending is your favorite?
So much good discussion and more, so gear up, grab your axes and ropes and glow sticks, and let's explore this thing!

Show Credits:
Graphics -- Nathaniel Dickson: http://ndickson.com
Music -- Spencer Morelock, Ken Dickson
Ding Dong Darkness Time Media:
Twitter: @dddarknesstime
Instagram: dddarknesstime
Gmail: dddarknesstime@gmail.com

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