It's been a wild ride, but don't worry...it's not over yet! We can't wait to see you for season 2 ;) In the meantime, check us out on our socials and keep up with all the other awesome HYPERFOCUS stuff: linktr.ee/hyperfocuspod Until next time: stay chaotic, babes. Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/hyperfocus/donations Advertising Inqu…

Why do monkeys throw their poop? What are the most interesting unethical experiments? What is the HYPERFOCUS origin story? How do I know what to do with my life? Join Rachel for a fun and chaotic (duh) Q&A to find out the answers to these questions and more! if ur reading this i love you <3 Rachel Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/hyp…

We don't know how to take time off, but we love learning, so we're giving it a shot. But make sure you listen to the whole "episode" for your chance to be featured on the pod! We love you all and this wouldn't be possible without you. We're so thankful for your support and look forward to seeing you next week! Support this podcast at — https://redc…

Everybody loves a good ghost story. But on today's episode, Maddie talks about a ghost story with a hauntingly surprising twist! Oh, and not to mention the absolutely hilarious names... Sign the David Spade Bachelor Petition: https://chng.it/9vrwMrFR Sources: https://digpodcast.org/2017/11/05/cock-lane-ghost-london/ https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news…

It's time for some mystery! Do you think you could solve a murder? What about a murder committed in a dollhouse? Today we're talking about Frances Glessner Lee and her incredibly creative--and groundbreaking--contributions to forensic investigation. This story flips the good ole "whodunnit" on its head! Sources: https://www.npr.org/2017/11/18/56479…

Before there was the Princess Street Gardens gracing the city of Edinburgh, there was a much more disgusting and foul smelling lake - Nor Loch. Today's show tells the tale of Nor Loch and its haunting history which is still a deeply significant piece of Edinburgh's legacy and haunted reputation. Sources: https://www.scotsman.com/arts-and-culture/lo…

Rachel is either crazy or in love...maybe both. Today, Rachel tells the story, origin, major sightings, and cultural relevance of her favorite cryptid: Mothman. From a massive wingspan tacked onto a man-like body to disappearing dogs and shining red eyes, this creepy boy lives rent free in our minds, and he is welcome to stay. We love him. Except f…

Some of the greatest discoveries, inventions, and moments in history come from feuds. So today, Maddie is walking us through three famous feuds - one about a sports brand, another about Scottish clans, and a final one about fossils. Sources: https://www.adidas-group.com/en/about/history/ https://olympics.com/en/video/amsterdam-1928-radke-lina https…

What do color vision, philosophy, One Direction, artificial intelligence, and Howie Mandel have in common? Well...Rachel talks about them in this episode. In all seriousness, join us this week on a deep dive into the human brain and the human condition as Rachel and Maddie discuss the Mary's Room thought experiment and the limits of science and int…

Today's heroine has a bit of a temper and is most likely a Scorpio for her revenge gene. St. Olga of Kiev is one of medieval history's craziest revenge stories, and to make things all the more ironic, she somehow makes her way to saint-dom in not one but two church traditions! Maddie's in charge on today's episode, and she's taking us back to medie…

How long can a fire burn? How long can you live in a town built on top of an underground fire? Why would you want to stay in here? Well, I'm gonna be honest...we don't answer all of these questions, but we do ask them. Today, Rachel takes us through the story and history of how Centralia, Pennsylvania became a real-life, modern ghost town. Sources:…

If you've seen American Horror Story: Hotel or watched the documentary on Elisa Lam, you know about how unsettling and creepy the Cecil Hotel is. On today's episode, Maddie is diving deep into the disturbing and cruel history of one of America's most infamous hotels. TW: This episode contains descriptions of suicide, death, murder, hauntings and co…

We all know that she wrote Frankenstein at a very young age, but what else do you know about the life of Mary Shelley? There's just. so. much. From death to affairs to weird things happening at graves (do we maybe see her inspiration for the story here?), Shelley's life was riddled with a difficult mix of trauma and success. Sources: https://www.bi…

I'm sure you've heard of the Grand Canyon... you know the canyon by which all other canyon must objectively be compared to? Well tune in to today's episode to hear more about the architect who built up the national park in the early 1900s - as a woman - in a male-dominated field - without even the right to vote. Sources: https://pioneeringwomen.bwa…

What do you do when you're sleep deprived and the Russian army is chasing you? You take a TON of drugs...or at least that's what Aimo Koivunen did. This man has seen it ALL. Although, to be fair, not all of it was real. Join us on today's episode to go on Aimo's journey together! SOURCES: https://medium.com/exploring-history/the-crazy-crystal-meth-…

We are very tired. And very giggly. And very tired. Did I mention that we're tired? We still have no idea what happened to the file but look out for the full episode tomorrow! Sorry for the delay! We are doing our very best! Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/hyperfocus/donations Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Priv…

I'm sure you know the song and the TikTok trend... but do you know the man behind it? On today's deep-dive, Maddie takes the lead to share the mysterious stories about one of Russia's most legendary figures. Sources: https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/murder-rasputin-100-years-later-180961572/ https://www.history.co.uk/biographies/who-was-raspu…

How and why did the Stanford Prison Experiment end? Does it need to be debunked? Why do we care about it so much? Listen to our first ever "part two" to find out! Fair warning: Rachel gets really into it and tells people why they're wrong. But what else is new...? Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/hyperfocus/donations Advertising Inqu…

It's our first two-parter! Rachel just can't keep it short, can she? Today we head down to the depths of a Stanford University basement where Dr. Zimbardo created a mock prison experiment that has lived on in infamy. Why? Listen to find out! Sources: https://www.prisonexp.org https://www.newyorker.com/science/maria-konnikova/the-real-lesson-of-the-…

If you've heard of Alice in Wonderland, you're going to want to check this one out! Maddie deep-dives into Alice In Wonderland Syndrome (AIWS) and the fairy-tale-esque symptoms associated with this rare syndrome. Just like Alice found herself growing larger or smaller, seeing other things grow big or small, or even losing perception of time, those …

Rachel's the pilot on today's episode breaking down the Denver International Airport conspiracy. From reptilians to the Freemasons to the New World Order, the DIA is full of creepy art, weird symbolism, and swastika-shaped runways. Tune in to see whether or not you buy this conspiracy! Sources: https://www.denverpost.com/2016/10/31/definitive-guide…

It's Maddie's first episode! In her first episode, Maddie tells Rachel all about Billy Hull and his (now abandoned) wannabe Playboy mansion in Tennessee. It's a wild cocktail of greed, sex, opulence, and crime...and lots of mirrored glass and wood paneling. It is the 70's after all. Sources: https://abandonedsoutheast.com/2016/03/27/swingers-palace…

It's our first ever bonus episode!!! Today, Rachel interviews a (possible) new co-host. Will Maddie make the cut? Listen to find out! Don't forget to send in your farewell wishes for Lauren or give us your feedback on how Maddie did in this interview! And don't forget to stay chaotic, babes ;) Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/hyperfo…

It's Lauren's VERY LAST episode, so Rachel went all out. Today, we cover a total of 4 topics in one episode: Coffin Birth (Postmortem Fetal Extrusion), The Chicken Poop Prison (Khuk Khi Kai), Edible Packing Peanuts, and Cooping (and perhaps Edgar Allan Poe's experience with cooping). We also name our own old-timey gangs. Just in case. TW: Death, Ta…

Also known as "the fryscraper," this building is known for some wild (and dangerous!) occurrences. It's Lauren's last turn to choose the topic, and she's going out with a bang!...or a burn. Sources: Lauren is on her honeymoon at the moment and I do not have her sources. 😅 They will be posted as soon as we get those links from her! Support this podc…

It's an old timey crimey today, folks! In episode 13, Rachel tells Lauren all about Elizabeth Bathory (Erzsébet Báthory), also known as The Blood Countess: the world's most prolific serial killer. It's a wild story with a wild family and a wild love story with lots of wild crimes. TW: Death, murder, torture, executions, suicide Sources: https://www…

What’s the worst marketing downfall you can imagine? If you are picturing bombs, riots, unfulfilled promises, and drawn out court cases, you would be right. Join Rachel and Lauren as they talk about the fiasco that Pepsi Co. caused when a marketing scheme in the Philippines went wrong. Sources: https://www.bloomberg.com/news/features/2020-08-04/the…

Feral people, in my national parks?? It's more likely than you think. Well, not really. But Rachel can't ever resist putting memes in her show descriptions. In today's episode, Rachel discusses the TikTok about the feral, cannibalistic people in America's national parks. Tune in to hear what we *really* know about feral children such as Genie Wiley…

Angel of Death or Furry Grim Reaper? In today's episode, Lauren tells the story of Oscar, a therapy cat who is able to predict death even more accurately than the medical staff who work with him, providing comfort and cuddles to people as they pass. Join Lauren and Rachel as they discuss his life, work, and theories about where he gets his special …

BIRDS AREN'T REAL! Okay but actually...birds are government drones. Or, at least, they almost were at one point in history. This week, Rachel tells Lauren about how psychologist B.F. Skinner worked to make pigeons into bomb pilots during World War II. 2 things to remember: (1) Write a review of HYPERFOCUS and get a free sticker! AND (2) The birds w…

Happy Easter, babes! We love ya! But will Rachel and Lauren ever make up? Will they ever make more episodes after this devastating fight? Only time will tell... Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/hyperfocus/donations Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy…

This one goes out to all our psych nerds with a deep appreciation for Dr. Elizabeth Loftus and memory research! In today’s episode, Lauren and Rachel host a discussion about TGA (Transient Global Amnesia), a state of amnesia that lasts up to 24 hours. Sources: https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/1941874420953323 https://www.nytimes.com/20…

In episode 7, we take a look at the people who danced themselves to death in the 16th century. There are so many weird details and horrible government decisions in this story, and Rachel (for some reason) claims that this is one of her favorite historical events. It shows. Sources: The awesome book! https://www.amazon.com/Dancing-Plague-Strange-Ext…

Join Lauren and Rachel as they discuss the facts, theories, and opinions regarding Marilyn Monroe’s suspicious death. Her involvement with the Kennedy’s and connection to many other notable people make the circumstances surrounding her suspicious death even more specific, although it was ruled a suicide… so what really happened? Sources: https://ww…

Let's talk about death, baby! This week, Rachel takes Lauren on a journey through the funeral traditions of the Torajan people, including extravagant funerals and living with corpses. Spooky! But maybe also beautiful...? Listen and let us know what you think! TW: Death, Animal Slaughter Sources: https://allthatsinteresting.com/toraja-death-ritual h…

Lucky or unlucky? Violet Jessop lived an incredible life, surviving the Olympic, Titanic, and Britannic shipwrecks! We are so excited to tell you her beautiful and inspirational story of bravery, danger, and a bit of luck. Sources: https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/titanic/stories/violet-constance-jessop.htm https://thecatholicspirit.com/commenta…

If you like psychology, personality tests, science, or Criminal Minds, then this episode is for you!! This week, Rachel explains the new psychological idea of a Dark Empath. It's deep, it's cutting-edge, it's a little bit dark, and a big bit interesting. Dr. Brenner's Article: https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/experimentations/202008/introduc…

Tune in this week as Lauren leads a discussion of viking marriage traditions, including their rights for women, beautiful vows, and grave robbing! We are excited to take you back to the 12th century with us. Sources: https://www.ancient.eu/Saga/ https://www.vikingsbrand.co/blogs/norse-news/viking-wedding-history https://en.natmus.dk/historical-know…

In our first episode, Rachel tells Lauren all about the story of Wojtek, the bear who served in World War II alongside Polish soldiers (she also roasts Lauren quite a bit, but that's not the point). We LOVE Wojtek and are sure that you will too. Sources: https://time.com/4731787/wojtek-the-bear-history/ https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-1573681…

Welcome to Hyperfocus! Meet the hosts and learn what this podcast is all about! Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/hyperfocus/donations Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacyBy Rachel Stonecraft