Ain't It Scary? with Sean & Carrie

**NEW EPISODE**

This week we tackle the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum theft, one of the most notorious and high-value art heists of all time. One March night in Boston, 1990, two men donned police disguises to enter the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum in Boston. Once inside, they subdued security and walked off with a collection of art potentially valued at over $1 billion in 2024.

Vermeers, Rembrandts and more were lost to the world that night, never to be seen again. To this day, no one has ever been charged with the robbery. So who did it, and how, and can we collect this reward already? Find out on an action-packed episode!

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Ep. 174: Waiting for Vermeer - The Gardner Museum Heist This week we tackle the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum theft, one of the most notorious and high-value art heists of all time. One March night in Boston, 1990, two…

Just a reminder/note for anyone who didn’t hear the end of last episode that, since Carrie is out of state this week, the show will resume new episodes *next* Thursday, May 23. See you then! 💚🖤

**NEW EPISODE!**

This week, we’re celebrating all kinds of mums - but no, that isn’t in observance of America’s Mother’s Day holiday this upcoming Sunday! No, the collection of mums we’re discussing are of a decidedly drier type: human remains.

And these aren’t the millennia-old corpses of ancient Egyptian Pharoahs; no, all the we’re discussing come from the last century (and change) and all across the world.

From a drag queen’s closet in New York City to a musty Sicilian to Moscow’s Red Square to a D&D style b***y trap that holds the body of one of Sir Andrew Lloyd Webber’s greatest inspirations, follow us on a globe-trotting tour of the last 104 years’ most fascinating mummies.

(Note for our beloved listeners: We will be “off” next week, as Carrie will be out of state for a business trip. But don’t worry - we’ll see you again Thursday after next!)

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Ep. 173: Modern Mummies - Crime, Tragedy, and Idolatry This week, we're celebrating all kinds of mums - but no, that isn't in observance of America's Mother's Day holiday this upcoming Sunday! No, the collection of mums…

**NEW EPISODE!**

This week we're tackling the "ancient astronaut" hypothesis: the idea that ancient humans had repeated contact with extraterrestrials that is borne out in their myths, art, and monumental achievements.

How were the Great Pyramid of Giza and the Moai of Easter Island erected without modern technology? Could the Bible, the myths of the Babylonians and Mayan religion all be cultural memories of heavenly beings from another planet? Are the Annunaki and Planet X on their way back to the inner solar system at this very moment?

These crucial questions and more are - well, they're mocked and dismissed. Enjoy!

Subscribe, rate/review, and happy weekend! 💚🖤

Ep. 172: Ancient Aliens This week we're tackling the "ancient astronaut" hypothesis: the idea that ancient humans had repeated contact with extraterrestrials that is borne out in their myt…

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Last week we shared the first half of the dramatic tale of one of America’s so-called “Crimes of the Century” - the , and tragic murder, of Charles Lindbergh Jr., toddler son to one of the most famous men in the world: Charles Lindbergh.

In this, our 2nd and final part, we detail the painstaking investigation that eventually led to the arrest of German immigrant Richard “Bruno” Hauptmann for the murder of little Charles. The years-long search for the kidnapper and killer involved serial numbers, con artists, ransoms and one very tenacious wood expert, all which eventually led police to Hauptmann’s doorstep. But was the (admittedly very guilty-looking) Hauptmann actually the one who took the Little Eaglet from his “nest” that fateful night in March 1932?

We launch own own investigation, including a recap of Charles Lindbergh’s life after his son’s death...and how his alleged N**i sympathies may have pointed to a darker motive than greed in the toddler’s killing.

Subscribe, rate/review, and enjoy. 💚🖤 (PS - Please let us know if the part 1 audio is playing for you when you hit play on part 2, and if so, what podcast app you’re using! Had a weird technical snafu upon upload, so just want to be sure the file has updated everywhere. 😊

Ep. 171: The Lindbergh Baby Kidnapping, Pt. 2 - Trial of the Century Last week we shared the first half of the dramatic tale of one of America's so-called "Crimes of the Century" - the kidnapping, and tragic murder, of Charles Lindbe…

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On the night of March 1st, 1932, little Charles Lindbergh Jr. was tucked into his crib for a good night's sleep. Mere hours later, the family nurse discovered that Charles Jr. was no longer in his bed...nor was he anywhere else to be found. The disappearance kicked off the beginning of one of America's so-called "crimes of the century", and one of the world's earliest international sensations.

Because Charles Jr. wasn't just any toddler - he was the son of megastar aviator Charles Lindbergh, one of the most decorated daredevils of all time and one of the most famous men to ever live. What was to follow was a historic investigation, involving a desperate manhunt, con artists, ransom notes, and the still-new FBI.

Next week, we'll go into the second part of this story with the O.G. "trial of the century."

Subscribe, rate/review, enjoy. 💚🖤

Ep. 170: The Lindbergh Baby Kidnapping, Pt. 1 - Crime of the Century On the night of March 1st, 1932, little Charles Lindbergh Jr. was tucked into his crib for a good night's sleep. Mere hours later, the family nurse discovered that …

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It’s an old school ghost story this week - and we mean *way* old school, as we jump back to the early 19th century to explore the Bell Witch Haunting. 🧙

From 1817 to 1821 John Bell Sr. and his family were harassed by an invisible presence with a clear, distinct voice and a penchant for slapping people around. This week Sean introduces us to the Bell family, the mischievous spectral gossip known as Kate, and the series of events on this Tennessee farm that would eventually turn deadly. (I mean, maybe.)

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Ep. 169: The Bell Witch It's an old school ghost story this week - and we mean *way* old school, as we jump back to the early 19th century to explore the Bell Witch Haunting. From 1817 to …

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[Obvious TW this week for discussion of su***de.]

Over the years, certain songs have attracted dark reputations. Reputations like that the songs might drive you mad enough to end your own life... or make others mad enough to end another's. This week, we discuss 3 famous examples of these "su***de songs": the morosely melancholic "Gloomy Sunday", the sinister legend of the Lavender Town Syndrome, and the very real rash of "My Way" murders, centered within Philippines karaoke culture.

Can a song really drive you to life-ending despair? Can a video game chiptune actually break your mind? And can one of the Chairman of the Board's most famous ditties really inspire murderous intentions in others? We try to find the answers in a decade-spanning journey from 1930s Hungary to Pokémon's Kanto Region to Filipino karaoke bars.

Subscribe, rate/review, enjoy. 💚🖤

Ep. 168: Su***de Songs - 'Gloomy Sunday', Lavender Town Syndrome, and the 'My Way' Murders [Obvious TW this week for discussion of su***de.] Over the years, certain songs have attracted dark reputations. Reputations like that the songs might drive you mad…

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Born in small-town Italy in 1893, Leonarda Cianciulli had led a hard and tragic life - but her friends and neighbors in Correggio, Reggio Emilia knew her as a kindly woman and a good neighbor. Naturally, they were all shocked when she was arrested for luring three local women to their violent deaths.

Axe Murder March finishes with a bang (a whack?) as we find out why Cianciulli is known as the Soap-Maker of Correggio, and explore whether her murders really were, as she claimed, motivated by human sacrifice. 🪓🩸

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Ep. 167: Leonarda Cianciulli - The Soap-Maker of Correggio Born in small-town Italy in 1893, Leonarda Cianciulli had led a hard and tragic life - but her friends and neighbors in Correggio, Reggio Emilia knew her as a kindl…

Happy to our fearless co-leader, Carrie! Do you have a favorite Carrie-led episode? 🎂🎉

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This week, we finish our two-parter on the rise of the Norwegian black metal scene and the leaders of the pack, Mayhem, as the culture descends into edgelord-on-edgelord crime - first with a series of arsons across Norway, and eventually spinning into the inevitable end of chaos and murder.

Experience such real-life characters as Varg Vikernes, black metal musician and out-and-proud white supremacist-turned murderer; Euronymous, the (still-young) godfather of the Norwegian black metal scene and eventual victim; Faust, who killed a man just for kicks; and...Kanye West?

We also follow up on our News segment from last week, in which we give the public what they've surely been waiting for: an update on Kate-Watch. (New developments to be addressed next week - wishing the Princess the best!)

Subscribe, rate/review, enjoy. 💚🖤

Ep. 166: Metal, Mayhem, and Murder, Pt. 2 This week, we finish our two-parter on the rise of the Norwegian black metal scene and the leaders of the pack, Mayhem, as the culture descends into edgelord-on-edg…

**NEW EPISODE!**

In the early 1990s, a series of crimes rocked the historically peaceful country of . Churches were burned, home-grown terrorist plots were revealed, and arrests were made.

Then, the murders came.

This rash of crime all stemmed from one seemingly-innocuous source: Norwegian black bands and their fans. It seemed like these musicians were trying to out-edgelord each other, and no band pushed harder for the title of “Most Evil” than the fathers of Norwegian black metal, Mayhem, led by the charismatic Euronymous. But would succumb to a tragic fate of his own - and one of his own bandmates would be the perpetrator of his death.

This week, we dive into the Scandinavian black metal scene to try and understand why such a peaceful country could spawn such a dark musical fandom...and how that fandom eventually worked itself into a self-perpetuating metal madness.

In our News segment, we also take a mini-dive into all the conspiracies surrounding , the Princess of Wales - and why she hasn’t officially been seen in public in months.

Subscribe, rate/review, enjoy! 🖤💚

Ep. 165: Metal, Mayhem and Murder, Pt. 1 In the early 1990s, a series of crimes rocked the historically peaceful country of Norway. Churches were burned, home-grown terrorist plots were revealed, and arres…

You may have noticed we weren't in your podcast feeds this morning - have no fear! Between jet lag and catching up on our day jobs, we needed to take this week to get back into our American routine (and time zone).

Thanks all for your patience. New episode next Thursday!

In case you didn’t hear last episode, we’re off this week for family time in ! We’ve been loving getting to know our new nephew…and, of course, teaching him about all the important things. Like Mothman. 🇳🇴

See you next Thursday!

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The raison d'etre for our whole series on Hannibal and the Punic Wars is here this week, and that's very bad news for 50,000 Roman soldiers.

After being beaten and humiliated by for two years straight, the came out swinging in 216 BC with the largest army the Republic had ever raised. Nearly 100,000 men chased the Carthaginian army to the small town of Cannae, which would become the site of the greatest military disaster in Rome's history - and one of those times and places in history Sean would least like to visit.

The Romans would eventually win the Second Punic War, and a few decades later would wipe Carthage off the map. But the most impressive thing they did in the whole conflict was to keep fighting after the crushing defeat at Cannae, Hannibal's most impressive victory.

Subscribe, rate/review, enjoy! 🖤💚

Ep. 164: Hannibal, Pt. 3 - With Their Heads Buried in the Ground The raison d'etre for our whole series on Hannibal and the Punic Wars is here this week, and that's very bad news for 50,000 Roman soldiers. After being beaten and …

**NEW EPISODE!**

Welcome back to the dusty horrors of ancient warfare, in part 2 of our rapidly expanding series (well, to 3 episodes, anyway) on and the Second Punic War!

It's 218 BC, and Hannibal just marched a whole army across the Alps to surprise the Romans in Italy. The next move is Rome's, and they've got all the wrong ones. We step into the shoes of infantry as tens of thousands of our buddies are slaughtered on the field at the Trebia and Lake Trasimene, before Fabius the Delayer steps in to make things way more safe and boring.

But don't worry - Rome's boldest moves, and most abject horrors, are still to come. Also, Hannibal marches 50,000 more guys through a marsh full of p**p.

Subscribe, rate/review, enjoy! 🖤💚

Ep. 163: Hannibal, Pt. 2 - Shades of My Foully Murdered Countrymen Welcome back to the dusty horrors of ancient warfare, in part 2 of our rapidly expanding series (well, to 3 episodes, anyway) on Hannibal and the Second Punic War! …

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Sean has the podcast reins for two weeks of HANNIBAL. No, not the cannibal - the Carthaginian general who made himself the worst nightmare of the Roman legions.

Take a trip with us back to the third century B.C., where new horrors wait around every corner - from children sacrificed to ancient gods, to sieged cities starving behind their walls, to armored men tumbling off high alpine peaks. Oh, and a crapload of elephants.

Settle in for next week, because Hannibal is saving the worst for the Romans!

Subscribe, rate/review, enjoy. 💚🖤

Ep. 162: Hannibal, Pt. 1 - Fire and Steel Sean has the podcast reins for two weeks of HANNIBAL. No, not the cannibal - the Carthaginian general who made himself the worst nightmare of the Roman l…

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This week, Carrie takes us on a trip back to the 1930s Mississippi Delta with the mysterious story of Robert Johnson, American icon and “first ever rock star.” Johnson has long been identified with the that he, desperate to become an incredible , went down to the crossroads one dark night and sold his soul to the for musical glory.

Did Johnson really make some kind of Faustian bargain with himself? If not, how did he go from no-talent blues wannabe to musical virtuoso in just a few short months? And did the “hellhound on his trail” that dogged him throughout a life shadowed by tragedy drive him to his untimely end at the young age of 27? We try to answer some of these questions and more in this exploration of the darker roots of rock ‘n roll.

Subscribe, rate/review, enjoy! 💚🖤

Ep. 161: Crossroad Blues - The Mystery of Robert Johnson This week, Carrie takes us on a trip back to the 1930s Mississippi Delta with the mysterious story of Robert Johnson, American blues icon and “first ever…

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Since at least the 16th century, the English counties of Norfolk, Suffolk and Essex have told stories of “Black Shuck”, a ghostly black who appears as an omen of death. But ol’ Shuck isn’t the only spectral hound going around portending doom in the British Isles!

In this episode, Sean takes us on a tour of Black Dog stories from all over and Great Britain, and tries to get to the bottom of how the best boys got stuck with such a creepy rap. Along the way we get lost in 19th century travel guides, check in with our old friend Odin and meet dog spirits from the mischievous Padfoot to the feared Barghest. 🐾

Subscribe, rate/review, and enjoy! 🖤💚

Ep. 160: Black Shuck and the Deadly Hounds of Britain Since at least the 16th century, the English counties of Norfolk, Suffolk and Essex have told stories of "Black Shuck", a ghostly black dog who appears a…

**NEW EPISODE!**

On Christmas Eve, 1945, a mysterious fire burned the home of George and Jennie Sodder to the ground. George, Jennie, and four of their children escaped the blaze. The five remaining Sodder children, aged 5 to 14, were not so lucky. However, no remains - of any of the five Sodder children who were lost that night - were ever found.

As the years went on, it became clear there was a conspiracy of silence surrounding the Sodder case in their town of Fayetteville, West Virginia. Had George Sodder pi**ed off the wrong people with his anti-Mussolini rhetoric during WW2, making his Italian immigrant family a target for nefarious players...and perhaps even the Sicilian Mafia?

Did the five "lost" Sodder children even die in the fire at all, or - as the Sodder parents believed until their deaths - were they actually kidnapped, the fire being a mere "smokescreen" to hide the truth?

Carrie takes us through this bizarre, twisty-turny case, and tries to find some answers in the abyss of time and obfuscation.

Subscribe, rate/review, enjoy! 🖤💚

Ep. 159: The Curious Case of the Sodder Children On Christmas Eve, 1945, a mysterious fire burned the home of George and Jennie Sodder to the ground. George, Jennie, and four of their children escaped t…

Hear ye, hear ye! Thanks to some technical difficulties, the new episode will be on your feeds likely late this evening. Thanks for your patience!!

It’s finally time! Vote in on which ‘Die Hard’ Christmas movie recast you’d most want to see - Sean’s ‘Dream Hard’ starring Freddy Kruger as John McClane, or Carrie’s ‘Christmas Adventures’ starring Zak Bagans as John McClane??

Comment with your pick! (Variably, react with a thumbs up for Sean’s and a heart for Carrie’s!)

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Perhaps the most notorious carnival sideshow performer of all time, Grady Stiles Jr. is known to history as Lobster Boy.

Born with severe , a genetic condition that left him unable to walk and with forked, two-fingered hands, Grady followed his father into the family business playing to the crowds in traveling . But as he got older, and had a family who he would also pull into the carnival circuit, a lifetime of resentment and hard drinking boiled over into violence and, eventually, - first *by* Grady, and later *of* Grady.

Tune in as Sean shares the whole sordid tale in this macabre kick-off to the new year! Subscribe, rate and review, enjoy. 🖤💚

Ep. 158: Lobster Boy - The Violent Life and Death of Grady Stiles Jr. Perhaps the most notorious carnival sideshow performer of all time, Grady Stiles Jr. is known to history as Lobster Boy. Born with severe ectrodactyly, a…

It’s become a bit of an AIS tradition, unfortunately, that we get sick around the holidays the last few years. Sadly, this New Year was no different. We apologize for not getting a new episode out this week - we both came down with pretty rough illnesses in the post-Christmas week, and Carrie is still pretty deeply under the weather. Sean wanted to hop on and give this little update, so you wouldn’t think we’d left you in the dust of Christmas past!

We hope you’ve had a lovely New Year, and can’t wait to get back to it next week (don’t worry - this isn’t an extended hiatus!). See you a little further into 2024! 💚🖤

**NEW SPECIAL EPISODE!**

In lieu of taking a total holiday break, we've instead brought you a post-Christmas treat: an interview with local author Patrick Scalisi and illustrator Valerie Ruby-Omen (The Tiny Ruby Illustrations) regarding their recent book release 'Connecticut Cryptids: A Field Guide to the Weird and Wonderful Creatures of the Nutmeg State'!

Pat and Val discuss what inspired them to compile the stories of Connecticut cryptids into this extraordinary field guide, which includes tales like that of the Grench, the Black Dog of Hanging Hills, several water monsters, and of course - Bigfoot in CT!

You can purchase a copy of 'Connecticut Cryptids: A Field Guide to the Weird and Wonderful Creatures of the Nutmeg State' at any of the links below:
https://www.amazon.com/Connecticut-Cryptids-Wonderful-Creatures-Nutmeg/dp/B0CJGPVYKC
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/connecticut-cryptids-patrick-scalisi/1144100381
Shop Local: https://www.strange-ways.com/collections/books-zines-media/products/connecticut-cryptids-book-signed

Thanks to Pat & Val for joining us! And keep an eye out - a poll for our Christmas special AND a special giveaway opportunity will be popping up on socials over the next week or so. 🖤💚

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https://www.aintitscary.com/ainterviews-a-chat-with-connecticut-cryptids-author-patrick-scalisi-and-illustrator-valerie-ruby/

AINTERVIEWS: A Chat with 'Connecticut Cryptids' Author Patrick Scalisi and Illustrator Valerie Ruby-Omen In lieu of taking a total holiday break, we've instead brought you a post-Christmas treat: an interview with local author Patrick Scalisi and illustrator…

Merry Christmas, happy holidays and blessed Yule to all those who celebrate! Us here at Longboi Media studios (Sean, Carrie, and Poe, of course) wish you a wonderful rest of the festive season and only the best in the new year. 💚🎄🖤

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This week we tiptoe around the border between worlds, in an episode dedicated to photography! Taken between 1917 and 1920 by two young girls, the Cottingley Fairy photographs seem to depict tiny, dance-happy (and, in one weird case, a sneaky gnome) playing with the human children.

Over the decades the Cottingley Fairy pictures have fascinated many fans of the occult - most famously Sherlock Holmes creator Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, who would dedicate a surprising portion of the 1920s to the serious study of fairy life (seriously!).

Subscribe, rate/review, enjoy. 🖤💚

Ep. 157: The Cottingley Fairies This week we tiptoe around the border between worlds, in an episode dedicated to fairy photography! Taken between 1917 and 1920 by two young girls, the C…

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More than 10,000 people (and, honorarily, one dog) have been made Catholic saints in the more than 2,000 years that the religion has existed - and in all that time, there are bound to be some crazy stories along the way. Inspired by the holiday season, reformed Carrie & Sean go through some of the wildest backstories of the this week, including tales of , possible fraud, religious ecstasy, incorruptible remains, holy relics, and a wide variety of absolutely brutal deaths and martyrdoms, including flaying, burning, decapitation, , torture, and being rolled down a hill in a barrel full of knives.

Along the way, the strangest patronages are discussed, and Carrie and Sean share both their own chosen Confirmation saints and take a quiz to see who should really be their patron saint. Y'know - fun stuff!

Subscribe, rate/review, enjoy! 🖤💚

Ep. 156: Saints, Stigmata, Relics and Remains More than 10,000 people (and, honorarily, one dog) have been made Catholic saints in the more than 2,000 years that the religion has existed - and in all…

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Our two-part jaunt into murder, madness and 19th century elections continues (and ends) this week, as Sean finishes the heartbreaking tragic story of the death of James Garfield — followed by the slapstick comedy romp that was the trial of Charles Guiteau.

Convinced he was destined to play a role in history and spurned in his several half-assed attempts to earn it, Guiteau turned his efforts toward eliminating the man most emblematic of the system that rejected him...and also waved his arms around a lot and wrote some very bad poetry on his way to the gallows.

Join us as Chuck goes to "meet the Lordy" — and realizes that infamy won't save him from his fate.

Subscribe, rate & review, and enjoy! 💚🖤

Ep. 155: The Assassination of President James Garfield, Pt. 2 Our two-part jaunt into murder, madness and 19th century elections continues (and ends) this week, as Sean finishes the heartbreaking tragic story of the…

**NEW EPISODE!**

James Garfield was shot on July 2, 1881, just a few months into his tenure as 20th President of the United States. The man who shot him, Charles Guiteau, was a lifelong loser who had previously tried his hand at (manic) street preaching, lawyering and insurance sales - and who had made James Garfield a sworn enemy without the President ever giving him a second thought.

In this first of a two-part series, we learn about the lift and times of the incredibly annoying Mr Guiteau, and introduce James Garfield before we cover his untimely and tragic death next week.

Who is Charles Guiteau? Why did he shoot the President? And why could no one stand to be around this guy? All will be answered in this two part series!

Subscribe, rate/review, enjoy. 💚🖤

Ep. 154: The Assassination of President James Garfield, Pt. 1 James Garfield was shot on July 2, 1881, just a few months into his tenure as 20th President of the United States. The man who shot him, Charles Guiteau,…