WonderBinge

This past Thursday, the Monachino Family home went up in flames. Everyone is safe, which is what matters most. In order to give us time to physically and emotionally recover, WonderBinge will be postponed until further notice. Thank you for understanding

Gen is back on her We Didn't Start the Fire train... except that this time, someone did indeed start the fire. The Woodstock festival of 1999 was one for the books. Well known artists like Willy Nelson, Kid Rock, Korn, and The Red Hot Chilli Peppers took the stages. But it wasn't their amazing performances that would make this festival go down in history. Instead, what would be remembered was the glimpse the world got into an apololyptic nightmare.

Another listener request alert!! This week, Maria takes on a request for one of the East Coast's most well known cryptids. Deep in the Pine Barrens of south New Jersey, and sometimes even the surrounding areas of Philadelphia, a high-pitched scream will tear through the air, letting you know that its closing in on you. Some know this wyvern-esque creature as the Leads Devil, or the Pines Devil, but perhaps it is best known as The Jersey Devil.

Listener request!! Is one of America's most famous families, The Kennedys, actually cursed? Did JFK's dad forget to carry Madame Zeroni up the mountain? Have they been targeted by the mafia? According to one Kennedy, someone "up there" doesn't like them.

Hammy came in clutch! Gen was supposed to report back to y'all this week, but her perfectionism got the best of her. Fortunately, Matt volunteered to chat about American folk-hero; Johnny Appleseed. Along the way, were remember another American folk-hero, John Henry, and whether or not Paul Bunion is a peper towel mascot.

As a continuation of an, unplanned yet ongoing, conversation between the hosts, Gen and Maria debate and create the "The Perfect Universe;" where many popular mascots finally have their places in society solidified. Hop on down to Lucky's bar to have a beer with Captain Crunch and The General, eat some of Lefty's famous Hamburger Helper, and discuss which of the four Fantanas are Wendy's real mom. Don't forget to tip your waiter, Geoffrey the Giraffe.

Thanks to Tik Tok, and the ever-growing desire to fill-in the gaps of our history, more and more untold stories are becoming well known. An example of such a story is that of Yasuke: the first (known) black samurai! From anime series to video games, Yasuke's story has been told and retold many times, but audiences may not have known he was a real person. This week, Maria dives into the details about how an African body guard became a beloved confidant to a powerful feudal lord and changed Japanese history.

Oh boy howdy, do we have a doozy for you today. Next up on the We Didn't Start the Fire train, Gen covers the Golden State Killer and how justice finally caught up to him! Victims and their families are resting easy, while criminals, who thought they've gotten away with their crimes, start to shake in their boots.

Starting today, Genna is cheating - or at least, Maria feels that she is. Upon hearing Fall Out Boy's reimagination of Billy Joel's original song, 'We Didn't Start the Fire,' Gen realized that she was unfamiliar with many of the topics FOB was singing about. Is she simply ignorant? Uncultured? Why doesn't she know so many of these references? That is when she decided to use this opportunity to explore a whole pool of episode topics, pulling directly from the song's lyrics. Her first topic in her We Didn't Start the Fire series is the very first line of the song; 90's cartoon superhero and environmental activist - Captain Planet! While he may possess multiple super abilities, the power is most certainly yours! Just watch out for spitballs and name-calling. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/wonderbingepod/message

Now hiring: Rodent Control/Emotional Support Job Description: We are looking for a feline friend to join our crew aboard the SS WonderBinge. This position requires basic hunting and pouncing skills, sea legs, and minimal interaction with the rest of the crew. Personal tackle box, hammock, and ID will be issued upon hire date. Exceptional performance will be rewarded with titles, medals of honor, and biographies of your life. Please be advised that this position may include life-threatening circumstances, swimming, and sudden change of work location under different management. You may also be subject to having your name changed without being consulted. Requirements: Extra toes, appetite for mice and rats, and tolerance of water --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/wonderbingepod/message

Birds are not real: The very real, definitely not conspiratorial, government program designed to spy on us and put robot bird shit on our cars. You may be disturbed by the things you are about to hear, and if you have a pet bird... well... user discretion is advised. Since the recording of this episode, there has been an important update to the birds aren't real community. Please stay tuned until the end!! --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/wonderbingepod/message

As far as landmarks go, Blucifer is a staple among those flying in and out of Denver International Airport. As far as conspiracies go, the entire property seems to be a breeding ground. Secretly swarming with gargoyles and lizard people, this airport is home to many a creepy painting riddled with hidden meanings, and underground tunnels; a prime location for covert meetings that may or may not be discussing the apocalypse. Ps. Feel free to ignore the bird talk for now. We had to delay our Bird episode that was recorded before this lol --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/wonderbingepod/message

Are you searching for your latest existential crisis? Look no further! Wander down the rabbit hole with us, as we question our reality and whether or not we are living in a simulation. Are we the real life Sims? Or are we the first simulation creators? --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/wonderbingepod/message

As suggested by the one and only Matty Ham, Maria tells us the story of the "Rooftop Robber," aka "Roofman", aka Jeffery Manchester. Manchester loved creating rooftop access to fast food restaurants, being courteous to frightened staff, hiding in the walls, regular exercise, and, of course, Spiderman. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/wonderbingepod/message

Hello listeners!! Welcome to Season 2!! Its been over a year since we've posted a research-based episode, but we're finally back on our bullshit! We have been dying to get back to y'all to share the plethora of topics bouncing around our brains. This episode is very special, for it is the first time that Maria and Gen combine research efforts on the same topic - Paganism/Witchcraft. While Maria dives into the history of witchery and related shenanigans, Gen explores the resurging interest in paganism and it's cultural significance. Special thanks to James Kull for our new intro music :) --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/wonderbingepod/message

Happy 4th birthday to WonderBinge Podcast! Seriously, thank you guys so very much for sticking around after an entire year hiatus. This podcast is a passion project for us, and we are so grateful to have people to share our curiosity and silliness with. For WB's birthday this year, we've dug through some old, very embarassing notes from our younger years. Genna was unwittingly the star of the show, but Maria's talent as a writer has finally been revealed. “Dialogue is a conversation between two people.” --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/wonderbingepod/message

We're alive and still kicking! Hopefully this episode finds you well, because we have had a whirlwind of a year. Nevertheless, we wanted to wish WonderBinge a Happy 3rd Birth by sharing an impromptu recording with our good friend, Sab! (https://www.instagram.com/intrepidbeans/) Stay tuned for more; we're cooking up some good info for Season 2! --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/wonderbingepod/message

With special guest and close friend of the show, Matt Hammy, we kick off our final episode before our brief hiatus. In this episode, you get to know the gang a little better with a handful of not-too-terrible icebreaker questions. What is your weirdest talent/untalent? Polar bear vs. 20 penguins; who wins? Doors or wheels? Results may vary. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/wonderbingepod/message

Hello, we're here to ruin your childhood. Did you know that many nursery rhymes, such as Rock-a Bye Baby and Jack and Jill, have much darker undertones? Queen Mary I, aka Bloody Mary, have quite a few dark rhymes attributed to her reign. Because there were not as many outlets for troublesome times as there are today, Maria and Gen have concluded that the only way to cope with tragedy was, and maybe still is, to sing about it. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/wonderbingepod/message

Another year gone by, and there were so many snippets that just didn't make the cut. But since we have attachment issues and couldn't get rid of these goofy little tidbits, we put them all in one place to be enjoyed by you! Happy Birthday WB! --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/wonderbingepod/message

We're sorry to announce that Maria has officially lost the game and has caught the plague. She's still kicking and wondering, "what's with shadow people, ya know? Why do I keep randomly seeing shadows moving in the corners of my eyes?" The answer lies somewhere between ghosts, aliens, and science (probably aliens). --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/wonderbingepod/message

As requested in the previous episode, Maria satisfies Gen's wondering by binging on the famous/infamous psychology test, Hermann Rorschach's inkblots. As if we should even be surprised anymore - it turns out that the original test Rorschach developed was taken out of context and twisted to fit whatever particular mould later psychologists wanted. It should be noted that this is NOT A PERSONALITY TEST! Do not trust online inklot tests - they are misleading. Listen to find out why! Check out our good friend Connor's new podcast, SquareFront, where they never circle back - https://open.spotify.com/show/5EHdix5nJ5ixKfVbLEaCgN?si=9ccfa56c3793401f --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/wonderbingepod/message

Not another episode about personality shit, Gen. We get it, you love talking about yourself. First your star sign, zodiac animal, and now your Myers-Briggs type? What even is the MBTI? What do those silly letters mean? We think you're projecting. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/wonderbingepod/message

Welcome to our mid-life crisis and our 50th episode! Today, Maria surprises Gen with a special guest to talk about something very near and dear to Maria's heart – the best story-telling improv game and sometimes lifesaving experience, Dungeons and Dragons. The table is yours. — HUGE shoutout to our amazing guest, Connor Riley. Follow them everywhere @criles and @criles_ --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/wonderbingepod/message

Happy Chinese New Year! (As of February 1st) It is the year of the Water Tiger. What? Water Tiger? What could that mean? It turns out, there is much more to the Chinese Zodiac than meets the eye. You thought your zodiac sign was just your birth year, you say? Well think again! Please enjoy Genna completely geeking out over how the Western Zodiac and the Chinese Zodiac sorta kinda match up. If you'd like to get more information about your Chinese Zodiac sign(s), check out this zodiac calculator: https://psychicscience.org/pillars  --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/wonderbingepod/message

Finally, a wholesome epsiode full of introspective discussion and limited chaos (although there will always undoubtedly be chaos). Held for eternity in what the populace has named 'a lover's embrace,' we're talking about some of the most famous sets of human remains made popular by their interlocking limbs. While it's easy to initially assume that these couples were in love, what are the odds that this eternal embrace was simply a desperate grab for humanity in their final moments? To check out Maria somehow having fun without Genna, click this link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K0vKT_xU8Vk --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/wonderbingepod/message

As requested by Maria in episode 45, Genna will be talking about many of the dangerous inventions from the Edwardian Era. Shockingly, the Edwardians did not quite understand how to control the new discovery of electricity and took a deadly amount of time figuring out the effects of asbestos and radium on the human body. In Maria's least favorite fashion, Genna made sure to save the worst for last. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/wonderbingepod/message

The holidays are very crazy - so crazy, in fact, that we didn't have time to do research. But never fear! We have a special little minisode for you. You're being taken back in time to 2019, before we ever released WonderBinge, to a time when Gen was trying to figure out how to edit podcasts. Hope you enjoy! Per Maria's shout-out, here is the link to her debut with 'Queer Nobodies Play' - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-JawjaWMJjg --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/wonderbingepod/message

Welcome to this extremely well prepared, well thought out, practically scripted, improv episode where Maria found enough time to breathe to tell us all about a few animals that people (primarily Europeans discovering the rest of the world) originally didn't believe truly existed. This is why we have cryptozoology – to discuss and research the potential that certain animals are not myth, but are in fact quite real. Catch the ending to hear a friendly ‘hello' from a very special quest. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/wonderbingepod/message

LISTENER SUGGESTION - Primary lesson of this epsiode: you can only learn some things the hard way... at least the first time around. During the Victorian and Edwardian Eras, there were several inventions created with the intent to make life easier, but ended up cutting lives short. Thank the stars that our ancestors have learned from their mistakes. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/wonderbingepod/message

Thief, bozo, potential killer and Edwardian celebrity, John Lee, was spared from his own execution, not once, not twice, but three times in February of 1885 at Exeter Prison. Was it the hand of God who spared him? And what happened to him afterward? For a plethora of information on this episode, please check out http://murderresearch.com/johnlee/the-man-they-could-not-find/ --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/wonderbingepod/message

So... life gets a little crazy sometimes... so much so that sometimes one just doesn't have the time to do notes for a podcast episode. Instead, this week Gen poses 5 semi-spooky hypothecial and straight-forward questions for Maria and herself to discuss such as; If aliens took over and put humans in zoo, what kind of snacks would you want patrons to throw at you? Which cryptid do you most identify with? And more! --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/wonderbingepod/message

It's part two of Werewolves, friends! We requested, and Maria delivered. This week, we're taken even further back in time to when werewolfery was originally being taken to trial. Turns out – being a werewolf isn't the crime, it's the Satanery that seemingly went hand in hand. We discover, however, that werewolves don't always involve a deal with the devil. Sometimes, they are god-sent. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/wonderbingepod/message

Can't stop – won't stop – we're continuing out theme of WonderBOOnge this week with some well-known trickery. Mysterious creatures and local legends have brought people together in a very special way - with storytelling and a good shared laugh. Once you've been the one who's duped, you can now be part of the club - waiting your turn to prank the next newbie in line. Special shout-out to the designer of the jackalope sticker - @_schmidte17_ on instagram --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/wonderbingepod/message

It's the 1800s, and you're doing whatever people did in the 1800s, when your neighbor comes to you for help with a mysterious injury. They've managed to shoot themselves in the arm, or break their jaw, or get tons of thorns stuck in their bum. You really want to get back to whatever you were doing, so you fix them up and send them on their way. Later on, you overhear a story about Mrs. Quigley encountering a werewolf the night before you fixed up the your neighbor; a story in which the Mrs. Quigley caused the werewolf an eerily similar injury to the one your neighbor had... Coinicidence? This week, Maria covers accounts of werewolf sightings in Pennsylvania - some much more recent than you'd think. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/wonderbingepod/message

Have you ever wondered if your pet was your familiar? Maybe you feel particularly attached to eachother, or perhaps your pet always seems to be interested in your witchiness. If you'd like, this episode contains just the spell to bond your pet to you forever. Another shout-out to Mars Counsel for their live performances! If you'd like to Gen's post of them on Instagram, you can find her @genna_veeeve (https://www.instagram.com/genna_veeeve/?hl=en) Follow Mars Counsel @marscounsel (https://www.instagram.com/marscounsel/?hl=en) --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/wonderbingepod/message

Calling all millenials for a nostaglia trip! In all of time and space and creation, there are bound to be some inventions that were created with the best intentions and ended up becoming so bad they acquired meme status as one of the most annoying and hated inventions to date. Though nothing more than a thin metal wire, Clippit, more commonly known as Clippy, will help you find what you need and keep it all together… or so they thought. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/wonderbingepod/message

Have you ever had the feeling that you're all out of whack? Have you felt a tightness of spirit, or possibly a strange physical ache in one area that medicine couldn't soothe? Maybe you need a doctor, a special potion or a priestess - or maybe your troubles can only be solved by you. Maybe you simply need to sit straight, find your inner quiet, and unblock realign your 7 chakras. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/wonderbingepod/message

Avast ye scallywags and land lubbers! Put on your sea legs and grab yourself a clap of thunder; cut the scuttlebutt and get three sheets into Piracy 101. We've got a crash course in all things Pirate – a brief history, ThE cOdE, superstition, and most importantly – SLANG. Ye who dare break the code or toss a cat to Davey Jones will be dancin' the hempin' jig with Jack Catch and telling no tales in the briny deep – savvy? --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/wonderbingepod/message

Maps leading to buried treasure have been sparking imagination for hundreds of years. Most of us nowadays see treasure hunting as a childhood fantasy - and any allegedly true treasure maps are the result of an imagination run too wild - but what if I told you that some of these treasure maps were real? Would your own imagination be sparked once again? Would you try to find it? What if you could? Today, Gen digs into the tales of the supposed treasures hidden somewhere in the USA. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/wonderbingepod/message

We've all had our fill of ancient gods and mythic tales of fighting and grandeur… or at least, you may have thought that! When it comes to ancient gods, Celtic culture is often swept under the rug and forgotten, but this week, we're bringing it to the forefront. Maria deep dives in the story of the Celtic demi-god, Sétanta / Cú Chulainn. As the human incarnation of the god Lugh, and son of the human Deichtine, Cú Chulainn managed to accomplish quite a lot of things before his untimely, yet prophesied, death. These accomplishments include, but are not limited to: becoming a literal guard dog, killing three men and impregnating a warrior woman before the age of 10, fighting an entire army single-handedly, and healing a goddess with the power of milk. Prepare yourself for phlegm. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/wonderbingepod/message

As a, slightly unintentional but kind of completely intential, continuation of the theme of stars from the previous epsiode, we're diving into the Western Astrological Zodiac. Who, when and why were star signs used? How do you read a birth chart? What the hell does it mean when Mercury is in retrograde and why do people care so much? We've got (most) answers and more!  --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/wonderbingepod/message

Sorry it's a bit late, but welcome to WonderBinge's 1st official Birthday Blooper Reel! These are the most amusing of the outtakes and general goofiness that didn't make it into the final cuts of the episodes recorded during our first year. Hope you enjoy! --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/wonderbingepod/message

People are strange and unique. There are those who create and those who destroy and those who analyze and those who just exist. You may have heard someone saying their child has an “old soul” or that it's like they're from a whole other world. And sure, many people say this about their children, it's natural to believe that your child is special, but Crystal, Indigo, Rainbow, and Star Seed children are a certain kind of special, displaying characteristics that push the boundaries of what is assumed to be our reality. https://www.google.com/url?sa=D&q=https://www.allthetests.com/personality-tests/are-you-this-star-figure/fantasy-characters/angels/quiz33/1460057342/am-i-an-indigo-crystal-or-rainbow-personality https://ethealing.nl/en/star-kid-identification-questionnaire Catch the end of this episode for an off-book conversation between the hosts. Special thanks to James Kull for the background cover of the music from The Narcissist Cookbook's Ghost Stories. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/wonderbingepod/message

LISTENER REQUEST! It was January 15th of 1919 in Boston Mass. when a collective nightmare became reality - a terrible dream where you try desperately to run, only to have your breathing labored and your movements feel unnaturally slow as though you're running through water… or maybe molasses. It was an average afternoon on this January day, and the people of Keany Square were going about their business. Suddenly, the ground began to shake and a deep rumble filled the air. An earthquake? Some may have wondered - before the screeching sound of metal tearing, and a BANG like a thunderclap. Then there it was - a sticky brown tsunami wave moving with uncanny speed; pulling people and animals down and filling their lungs with goo. The more people struggled to escape, the deeper they seemed to be pulled under. Today, we will be talking about an event known as the Great Molasses Flood of 1919, or the Boston Molassacre. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/wonderbingepod/message

If you have a license, you've likely encountered this scenario: It's late, you're driving home, perhaps on a dark back road - a shortcut if you will - and on the side of the road, in the peripheral shine of your headlights, you see that tell-tale reflection of eyes. Some may even have experienced that heart stopping moment of quickly breaking to a halt as that classic deer in the headlights stands staring back at you in the darkness. Deer are creepy in their own right. But in the Appalachian Mountain region of North America, there is something different. Something not quite right. In this episode, we discuss the folkloric Appalachian crypto-phenomenon that is the Not Deer. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/wonderbingepod/message

Welcome to WonderBinge Podcast! Thanks for taking a second to check us out! Never a dull moment with us crazy hosts, Gen Kull and Maria Monachino, when we dive into a variety of topics, spanning from historical events and strange lore to fun stories and interesting concepts. We love discussion and banter, but above all, we love learning new things and we hope you do too! New episodes drop every two weeks on Mondays. Subscribe on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Google Play or anywhere you listen to podcasts. You can also find us at https://anchor.fm/wonderbingepod --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/wonderbingepod/message

IT'S BEEN A FULL YEAR! And we didn't even realize! WonderBinge Podcast is a full year old, and it's all thanks to you! We are so grateful to have the opportunity to share our voices and research with you all. Thank you for listening! The tallies are in! You, our listeners, voted on what this episode should be on: a surprise as usual, or the origin of America's emergency call number, 911. Survey says - 911! What prompted the US to finally create an emergency number? Why those specific numbers? Who made the first call? We've got all the answers and more! --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/wonderbingepod/message

Well, what do you know? We're on a bit of a true crime streak! Maria decided to keep up the theme by sharing an unexpected story of murder - one that starts off as a beautiful tale about a footless goose empowering others with disabilities. Andy Fleming, the goose, had been born without feet, but his owner, Gene, took the time to craft him his own very special pair of sneakers. After that, the two toured around the country and even appeared on television to inspire others to push through hardships so to one day fly through clearer skies. Unfortunately, the story takes a tragic and heartbreaking turn. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/wonderbingepod/message

Who is Miranda? An who gave them the right? Technically, the Constitution gave them the right, but at one point in history, not everyone was aware of their rights upon arrest. Nowadays, reciting the Miranda Warning to ourselves feels more like we're quoting a crime show then remembering that we have the right to remain silent and the right to an attorney - since anything you say can and will totally be used against you. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/wonderbingepod/message

What was meant to be a light-hearted and fun-fact-filled episode quickly turns into the weaving of a dark conspiracy theory. Today we are following the lore of a legend. A man known far and wide. A man sought after, forever in hiding, yet always destined to be found. A time traveler, sought after by children, and hunted by his enemies. This is the tale, the legend, the lore of Where's Waldo. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/wonderbingepod/message