Episodes

  • After Midnight Livestream: The Top 5 Actors Who Have Never Won an Oscar (SAMPLE)
    Mar 6 2025

    Which actors would be in your top 5? Tell us in the Discord...

    ~

    Access the entire back catalog of After Midnights, plus bonus episodes and video livestreams over at the brand new MFFI Patreon:

    PATREON

    ~

    Join the Midnight Masses!

    Become an Insomniac by dropping a review, adding us on social media, and contacting us with episode ideas.

    And we now have Midnight Merch! Show your Insomniac pride and pick up a tee shirt or coffee mug to spread the word!

    Midnight Merch

    ~

    Leave an Audio Message!

    ~

    Instagram

    Show more Show less
    9 mins
  • Shane Goes Rogue! The History of Boxing
    Feb 27 2025

    Gloves on, mouthguards in—this week, Shane and Duncan are stepping into the ring to throw hands with the Sweet Science. How did a sport that started as an all-out brawl become a highly regulated, multi-billion-dollar industry? Who was the first true boxing superstar? And why do boxing matches always seem to spark as much controversy outside the ring as inside it? Lace up, listen in, and get ready for a heavyweight history lesson.

    ~

    Support the show by becoming a Midnight Minion, Menace, or Maniac, and unlock exclusive bonus content over at PATREON

    ~

    Chat with fellow insomniacs and vote on episode topics via DISCORD

    ~

    Join the Midnight Masses!

    Become an Insomniac by dropping a review, adding us on social media, and contacting us with episode ideas.

    And we now have Midnight Merch! Show your Insomniac pride and pick up a tee shirt or coffee mug to spread the word!

    Midnight Merch

    ~

    Leave an Audio Message!

    ~

    Instagram

    ~

    Podcast Website

    Show more Show less
    1 hr and 6 mins
  • The Greatest Unsolved Internet Mystery: Cicada 3301
    Feb 13 2025

    For years, an enigmatic online puzzle known as Cicada 3301 has baffled cryptographers, hackers, and conspiracy theorists alike. Was it a recruitment tool for a top-secret organization? A test designed by rogue intelligence agencies? Or just the most elaborate internet scavenger hunt ever devised? Join Shane and Duncan as they dive into the mystery, decode the clues, and attempt to unravel one of the internet’s greatest unsolved riddles.

    ~

    Support the show by becoming a Midnight Minion, Menace, or Maniac, and unlock exclusive bonus content over at PATREON

    ~

    Chat with fellow insomniacs and vote on episode topics via DISCORD

    ~

    Join the Midnight Masses!

    Become an Insomniac by dropping a review, adding us on social media, and contacting us with episode ideas.

    And we now have Midnight Merch! Show your Insomniac pride and pick up a tee shirt or coffee mug to spread the word!

    Midnight Merch

    ~

    Leave an Audio Message!

    ~

    Instagram

    ~

    Podcast Website

    Show more Show less
    1 hr and 9 mins
  • The History and Psychology of Gambling
    Jan 30 2025

    From ancient dice games to high-tech slot machines, the allure of risk and reward has shaped human behavior for centuries. In this high-rolling episode, unravel the history and psychology of gambling—how it started, why our brains are wired for it, and what keeps us coming back for more. Is it luck, skill, or just pure delusion? Place your bets and tune in for a deep dive into the science of chance, the origins of casinos, and the sneaky tricks that keep gamblers hooked.

    ~

    Support the show by becoming a Midnight Minion, Menace, or Maniac, and unlock exclusive bonus content over at PATREON

    ~

    Chat with fellow insomniacs and vote on episode topics via DISCORD

    ~

    Join the Midnight Masses!

    Become an Insomniac by dropping a review, adding us on social media, and contacting us with episode ideas.

    And we now have Midnight Merch! Show your Insomniac pride and pick up a tee shirt or coffee mug to spread the word!

    Midnight Merch

    ~

    Leave an Audio Message!

    ~

    Instagram

    ~

    Podcast Website

    Show more Show less
    48 mins
  • The History and Evolution of Cats
    Jan 16 2025

    Join Shane and Duncan as they dig their claws into the captivating history and evolution of our feline friends. From the revered temple cats of ancient Egypt to the superstition-shrouded mousers of the Middle Ages, and finally to the pampered companions of today, the duo traces the journey of cats through time. Whether you’re a cat lover or simply curious about humanity’s most mysterious semi-domesticated animal, this episode will leave you feline fine. Get ready to unravel the secret lives of cats, one fact at a time!

    ~

    Support the show by becoming a Midnight Minion, Menace, or Maniac, and unlock exclusive bonus content over at PATREON

    ~

    Chat with fellow insomniacs and vote on episode topics via DISCORD

    ~

    Join the Midnight Masses!

    Become an Insomniac by dropping a review, adding us on social media, and contacting us with episode ideas.

    And we now have Midnight Merch! Show your Insomniac pride and pick up a tee shirt or coffee mug to spread the word!

    Midnight Merch

    ~

    Leave an Audio Message!

    ~

    Instagram

    ~

    Podcast Website

    Show more Show less
    52 mins
  • Useless Technology (Throwback Encore)
    Jan 9 2025

    From umbrellas that distribute rain to radios that print the news, here are the most useless pieces of technology ever foisted an unsuspecting public.

    ~

    Support the show by becoming a Midnight Minion, Menace, or Maniac, and unlock exclusive bonus content over at PATREON

    ~

    Chat with fellow insomniacs and vote on episode topics via DISCORD

    ~

    In this episode:

    • Radio Newspaper
    • Xybernaut POMA
    • Kerastese Hair Coach
    • Umbrella Drone
    • Vacuum Cleaner Shoes
    • iSmell
    • Amazon Astro

    ~

    Join the Midnight Masses!

    Become an Insomniac by dropping a review, adding us on social media, and contacting us with episode ideas.

    And we now have Midnight Merch! Show your Insomniac pride and pick up a tee shirt or coffee mug to spread the word!

    Midnight Merch

    ~

    Leave an Audio Message!

    ~

    Instagram

    ~

    Podcast Website

    Show more Show less
    44 mins
  • The Origins of Common Idioms, Phrases, and Figures of Speech (Redux)
    Jan 2 2025

    Have you ever wondered why we "turn a blind eye," "pull out all the stops," or "fly off the handle"? In this episode, Shane and Duncan dive into the quirky, surprising, and sometimes downright bizarre origins of the phrases we use every day. From ancient customs to historical mishaps, discover the stories behind the words—and how they’ve stood the test of time. Get ready to uncover the ‘writing on the wall’ about your favorite idioms and figures of speech!

    ~

    Support the show by becoming a Midnight Minion, Menace, or Maniac, and unlock exclusive bonus content over at PATREON

    ~

    Chat with fellow insomniacs and vote on episode topics via DISCORD

    ~

    Join the Midnight Masses!

    Become an Insomniac by dropping a review, adding us on social media, and contacting us with episode ideas.

    And we now have Midnight Merch! Show your Insomniac pride and pick up a tee shirt or coffee mug to spread the word!

    Midnight Merch

    ~

    Leave an Audio Message!

    ~

    Instagram

    ~

    Podcast Website

    Show more Show less
    57 mins
  • Encore: The Pagan Origins of Christmas
    Dec 25 2024

    Merry Christmas, insomniacs! Here's a blast from the past. We hope you're having an amazing holiday season.

    How is Santa Claus connected to cannibalism? Which Christmastide holiday commemorates the slaughter of children? How should you decode the cryptic numerology message 20+C+M+B+22? And what's with all of those airborne reindeer? Welcome to Ghosts of Christmases Past, in which Shane and Duncan explore how tree-worship and animal sacrifice evolved into the bizarre, festive, highly commercialized holiday we know today. So whether you're feeling the Christmas spirit or just feeling jaded and grinchy, grab a cup of heavily-spiked eggnog, get cozy by the yule-log, and join the boys as they unpack the fascinating pagan history of Christmas.

    ~

    Support the show by becoming a Midnight Minion, Menace, or Maniac, and unlock exclusive bonus content over at PATREON

    ~

    Join the MFFI community and vote on episode topics via DISCORD

    ~

    In this episode:

    • Christmastide
    • Christmas Eve
    • The Feast of Saint Stephen, Protomartyr
    • Childermas, The Feast of the Holy Innocents
    • Herod the Great
    • The Feast of the Circumcision of Christ, Octave of the Nativity, Solemnity of Mary
    • The Feast of the Holy Family
    • 12th Night, Epiphany Eve
    • Chalking the Door
    • Saturnalia
    • The Holiday of Yule
    • Yule Boar, Yule Goat, Yule Log
    • Anglican Revelers vs. Puritan Grinches
    • The Story of the Nativity
    • December 25th Becomes the Arbitrary DOB
    • Christenmas, Christ Mass, and Xmas
    • Christmas Trees
    • Saint Nicholas of Myra, aka Saint Nick, aka Nicholas the Wonderworker
    • Sinterklaas
    • Christmases Around the World
    • Reindeer
    • Thomas Nast
    • Haddon Sundblom and Coca-Cola

    ~ Join the Midnight Masses!

    Become an Insomniac by dropping a review, adding us on social media, and contacting us with episode ideas.

    And we now have Midnight Merch! Show your Insomniac pride and pick up a tee shirt or coffee mug to spread the word!

    Midnight Merch

    ~

    Leave an Audio Message!

    ~

    Instagram

    ~

    Podcast Website

    Show more Show less
    46 mins