Ripley Radio: Recent Episodes
Ripley's Believe It or Not!®
Ripley Radio is an unpredictable and fun-filled hour that will prove beyond all dimensions that Ripley’s is indeed, the global authority on the weird, strange and bizarre. Each show provides listeners with amazing and absolutely true tales of today as well as un-believables from the extensive archives of the company that has been freaking out families for more than 90 years!
Following five years and 200 original shows, the Ripley Radio Oddcast is ceasing production, with this star-studded episode. The archive of all 200 shows will remain available on www.ripleyoddcast.com. Executive producer and co-host Tim O’Brien says the show is going out on top, with listenership and downloads topping 900,000 annually.
In this week’s grand finale, hosts Ralf with an F, Tim, Ripley archivists Edward Meyer and Angela Johnson are joined by long-time correspondents Chad Lewis, Jodi Pliszka, Florida TV reporter Scott Fais, Ripley’s cartoonist John Graziano, and the executive editor of Huffington Post’s Crime and Weird News coverage Buck Wolf. It’s a truly raucous close to five years of weirdness.
A few of the weird things this illustrious weird news dream team chats about on the August 11 episode of Ripley Radio include: Ralf finds Aladdin, an entire town, for sale in Wyoming for only $1.5 million; we hear of a swarm of Mayflies that was so dense that it showed up on weather radar as a thunder storm; Scott takes us Skunk Ape hunting in Florida; John previews upcoming Ripley Believe It or Not! cartoons; and Chad takes us to vintage and funky gas stations on his last road trippin’ segment.
The Rolling Stones provide the musical egress for Ripley Radio with the seemingly appropriate This Could Be the Last Time.
The Museum of Morbid Anatomy in Brooklyn, N.Y., was the sight of a book launch party for Ward Hall – King of the Sideshow!, a biography written by Ripley’s Tim O’Brien. The party was thrown by Huffington Post’s executive editor, Buck Wolf, who joins us this week on Ripley Radio and tells us why he and his staff wanted to host this big sideshow party.
Additional Weird and Wonderful stories on the August 4 edition of Ripley Radio: A man known as the Big Tomato talks with Ralf about his efforts to save a 185-foot tall ketchup bottle; Chad Lewis acquaints us with some funky roadside motels, including one in the shape of a huge dog; Jodi Pliszka reports that leaving contact lenses in for too long can cause bacteria that will eat your cornea and cause blindness; Ripley’s official illustrator, John Graziano gives us a glimpse of some of the cartoons that will appear in September newspapers across the world; and “Florida on a Tankful” TV reporter Scott Fais takes us to a small community where hundreds of freaks, geeks and carnies have called home for decades – Gibsonton, Florida.
The largest boulder in the world is seven stories tall and lies within the Mojave Desert. Over the years, people from all over, including a few from Venus have visited what is now called Giant Rock. Barbara Harris is a local historian who knows more about that hunk of granite than anyone. She talks with Tim this week on Ripley Radio, the official radio program of Ripley’s Believe It or Not! and explains why aliens love this place. Over in Arizona, there’s a bookstore owner who works in the nude, except for a well-placed sock. Chad Lewis takes us road trippin’ to the store and then to a 27-foot statue that celebrates hoboes.
Additional weird and wacky stories on the July 28 episode of Ripley Radio include: Author Jacopa della Quercia visits and explains the weird, strange and steam punk plot of his new historical novel, The Great Abraham Lincoln Pocket Watch Conspiracy; Ralf tells us about a 90 year old man in England who was fined $8.000 for an overdue library book, which he checked out 61 years ago; Chicago artist Jim Bachor has created a new medium for his art – potholes in the road! Dressed in an orange vest in an attempt to keep from getting run over, he fills them with his own mosaic artwork. He tells Ralf how and why he does it; Angela explains why actor George Clooney cleaned the kitty litter box of one of his friends, just for fun; and we hear of Ripley’s newest acquisitions – the recreation of famous paintings in toothpaste.
Rocker John Fogerty provides us with our musical egress this week, with Summer of Love.
Where do UFO aficionados go for vacation? This year, a record number of them will be heading to Joshua Tree, Calif., to attend the second Contact in the Desert conference which is promoting a stellar lineup of speakers and events. Barbara Harris, one of the featured speakers, visits with Tim this week and tells us all about the much-anticipated confab. Tim also talks with author Denise Alvarado about her new book, The Voodoo Doll Spellbook, and learns a little about the Voodoo culture and that all Voodoo spells are not necessarily bad. Additional wonderfully weird, wacky and unbelievable stories you’ll hear on the July 21 episode of Ripley Radio include: Angela provides an update and some very strange facts about Google’s quest to develop a driverless car; Ralf explains how a man was able to drive half-way across the country before realizing that the elderly lady sitting in the passenger’s seat was dead; Chad Lewis takes us roadtrippin’ to Wisconsin where we meet Chatty Belle, a dairy cow behemoth; and high school principal Dennis Best tells us how his school graduated 14 sets of twins in June and how much fun it was trying to figure out one from another prior to their matriculation. British songster Ed Sheeran provides us with this week’s musical egress, his chart topper, Sing.
It’s hard to imagine a high-ranking dart thrower with no fingers. Add to that the fact that he has only one good eye and it becomes totally unbelievable! Canadian dart master Wayne Chapman joins us this week and talks about his incredible skills. We go road trippin’ with Chad Lewis to Oregon this week on Ripley Radio, the official program of Ripley’s Believe It or Not!, and we learn of a unique trap created to capture bigfoot, and then we stop off at Bigfoot Tavern for a sandwich and a beer.
Additional incredible, strange and weird stories on the July 14 episode of Ripley Radio include: Toad Detour, a program near Philadelphia in which the city and the neighbors cooperate to close down the highway for certain hours during the year, to allow toads to cross from a forest to a reservoir for mating purposes, and then six weeks later when all the little toads come hoping back across the road to get to the forest. The lady in charge explains the hows and whys of this intriguing story; Angela reports that a new style Breathalyzer is being developed that can predict and identify various illnesses; and Ralf describes a drug bust in Florida that featured the discovery of drugs hidden in an unusual part of the body, and it’s not where you think!
Karolina Dahlman provides a different twist on a love song in Stupid, this week’s musical egress.
Ripley Radio, the official radio program of Ripley’s Believe It or Not! has gone to the dogs, because dogs, in their own cute way can be quite strange at time. This week, we’ll hear of an accident in which a Chihuahua was driving one of the cars. We’ll also hear about Sally, a small dog from Fort Lauderdale who fell 15 stories down a shaft and walked away with only minor cuts and bruises. But boy, was she upset reports Dr. Spencer Ratnoff, the vet who treated her.
Additional weird and wacky stories on the July 7 episode of Ripley Radio include: There’s an ultimate Elvis Presley fan that has turned his home into a private museum in honor of the rock and roll king. Graceland Too, with no official affiliation with the real Graceland in Memphis, is open to the public. Chad Lewis says all you need to do is knock on the door anytime and the owner will be glad to give you a tour; do you use Instagram? If you do and you are in London, you can post a food photo and get a free meal. Angela tells us all about it and adds that Believe It or Not!, 52% of the population regularly takes photos of their food before eating; we hear of the discovery of a mastodon skull on the banks of a man-made lake in New Mexico. You’ll never guess who discovered it and what condition they were in when they found it. Hint- it was during a bachelor’s party; and speaking of Elvis, Angela says one of the newest additions to the Ripley archives is a chunk of his hair, acquired from and authenticated by an Elvis museum.
In honor of the bright days of summer, ZZ Top provides this week’s musical egress with Cheap Sunglasses.
Bears of all kind have been making headlines this summer but the latest weird bear story from New Hampshire may be the best yet. It seems a bear broke into a parked car and stole the car stereo. This week on Ripley Radio, we talk with Sargent George Walker, the trooper who investigated the crime. Whiskey flavored bacon coming from whiskey flavored pigs? Believe It or Not! it could happen. We’ll have a chat with Scott Bush, the president of the Templeton Rye Distillery and he’ll tell us about his plans. Additional Weird and Wacky Stories on the June 20 Episode of Ripley Radio, the official radio show of Ripley’s Believe It or Not!, include: In honor of July 4, Angela takes a look at some very unusual facts, myths, and stories about our National Holiday; Ralf tells us what city in the world has people taking the most selfies; we hear about the bizarre charges connected with what could be the largest law suit in the history of mankind; and Chad Lewis takes us road trippin’ to Indiana where we visit some very strange cemeteries and grave sites. British pop singer and actor Cliff Richard provides our musical egress this week with Here Comes Summer.
You can’t tie up your alligator to a fire hydrant after 9 p.m. in Detroit, and you are not allowed to honk your car horn in front of a sandwich shop after 9 p.m. in this Southwestern US city. Weird laws are still on the books, and often enforced. We’ll be talking about these and other bizarre laws on this week’s Ripley Radio, the official radio show of Ripley’s Believe It or Not! Allowing bed bugs to craw over your arm and randomly bite you is the latest craze in strange tattooing methods. We talk with Mat Camper, who says those who volunteer for the free “tattooing” are actually helping advance science. Believe It or Not!
Additional Bizarre, Strange and Wonderful Topics discussed on the June 23 Episode of Ripley Radio: We hear about a policeman who was attacked by a falling oak tree during a routine traffic stop and it was all caught on video. Chad Lewis takes us to Oklahoma on his weekly road trip where we stay at an RV park that also features a drive-in movie theater on the premises and then we take a drive down America’s longest and straightest stretch of highway.
Our musical egress this week is provided by Naughty Boy with La, La, La.
Among the greatest conspiracies that you may not know about is the Great Abraham Lincoln Pocket Watch Conspiracy. That’s also the name of a new book. It’s author, Jacopo della Quercia joins us this week on Ripley Radio, the official radio show of Ripley’s Believe It or Not! and tells us his story is based on true historical facts, but that he added some very quirky fictional twists. We also hear about a church whose pastor moved its Sunday services to a strip club in town because he wanted to better reach the underserved Christians in the area.
Additional weird, strange and unusual stories you’ll hear on the June 9 episode of Ripley Radio: Chad Lewis takes us road trippin’ to Kansas where we visit the home of the original piggy bank; we talk with a lady who found $40,000 of cash in a used sofa she bought at a Salvation Army Thrift Shop and find out whether she returned it or kept it and why she made that decision; Angela looks at some of the amazing inventions that young kids have made over the years; and Ripley’s archivist Edward Meyer tells us how close the company was to acquiring a Beatle’s home-made movie for free that sold for more than a million dollars.
The Bangles provide us with our rocking musical egress this week with Hazy Shade of Winter.
Fire officials in Waterville, Maine were confronted with a blazing fire in a truck in the Wal-Mart parking lot and upon arrival were quite surprised at the cargo contained in that truck! Fire chief David La Fountain joins us this week on Ripley Radio, the official radio show of Ripley’s Believe It or Not!, and explains. Sara Latta, author of Scared Stiff, a book about the top 50 phobias, tells us all about the fears associated with spiders and snakes.
Additional weird but true stories on the June 2 episode of Ripley Radio include: Chad Lewis takes us road trippin’ to Nebraska where we visit the home town of late night king Johnny Carson and a Klown Doll museum with more than 7,000 dolls; TV reporter Nick La Grange shares a feel-good story about an auto theft in Evansville, Ind. It’s bizarre but touching; Angela shares a few interesting secrets behind some of the iconic scenes of your favorite movies; We hear of a man whose last name is Cocaine. Why is he on Ripley Radio? He got busted for illegal drugs; and Ripley’s archivist Edward Meyer describes the strangest and possibly the freakiest item he has ever acquired for Ripley’s Believe It or Not! It’s a sculpture of a two-foot tall thumb and it lights up. The freaky part is what it is made of. Tune in and be grossed out as all of us were!
Avicii provides the musical egree this week with Hey Brother.
A bear with a jar stuck on his head in the Canadian city of Sudbury was rescued by officials after it blindly walked into a police cruiser! Was it the REAL Winnie the Pooh? This week on Ripley Radio, the official radio show of Ripley’s Believe It or Not!, talks with a constable who helped the young bear. The overwhelming fear of needles and blood is discussed this week by Sara Latta in the third installment in her series on strange and weird phobias.
Additional bizarre, weird but totally true stories discussed on the May 26 episode of Ripley Radio include: Ralf talks with a TV reporter who uncovered a heroin selling ring taking place from the intensive care ward of the local hospital; Chad Lewis takes us road trippin’ again this week to Colorado where one can watch a drive-in movie from their motel room and where one can climb the steps of an official alien-watching platform where they can be amongst the first to spot a spacecraft speeding toward Earth; Angela reports on a new study that shows that lathering your beef and pork with beer prior to cooking it on the outside grill can cut down on your cancer risks; We hear where a 26-story tall game of Tetris was played; and Ralf tells us of a 5-year old boy who figured out how to bypass parental controls and passwords on Xbox.
Tennessee based rock band Paramore provides our musical egress this week with Ain’t it Fun?
Butch Patrick, better known as Eddie Munster on the iconic TV series, The Munsters, visits us this week on Ripley Radio, the official radio show of Ripley’s Believe It or Not!, and tells us about his plans to restore his haunted ancestral home in Macon, Mo. Author Sara Latta joins us again this week and explains the phobias of cats and the number 13.
Additional Bizarre, Strange and Weird Stories on the May 19 Edition of Ripley Radio include: Our expert on the charms of Roadside America, Chad Lewis takes us road trippin’ again this week as we visit The Bridges of West Virginia; We hear that five children born this year so far have the name of ZZYZX and that a California town has the same name; Ripley’s archivist Edward Meyer reports on one of Ripley’s newest, and strangest acquisitions ever, a cow magnet. Once a farmer gets it into the cow’s stomach, it protects the bovine by collecting all the extraneous metal objects he eats during his life; Student Walker Harnden has just broken the record for the highest pitched human whistle ever recorded. He talks with Ralf and samples his whistling skills; and we learn that a school in London is now teaching dogs how to take selfies on an iPad!
Newcomer Rixton provides this week’s musical egress with his hit, Me and My Broken Heart.
Two volunteers who have trained for a trip to Mars in simulated environments in the U.S., talk with Ripley Radio, the official broadcast program of Ripley’s Believe It or Not!, about their time isolated in these environs. We start off four-week series on bizarre phobias and on road trippin’ to offbeat and strange roadside attractions.
Additional weird, crazy, strange and wacky stories on the May 12 Edition of Ripley Radio includes: Sara Latta, author of Scared Stiff – Everything you need to know about 50 famous phobias, delves into the bizarre phobias centered on clowns and dolls; Chad Lewis takes us on a road trip to Chicago where he discovers a person can walk from the beginning to the end of the famous Route 66, in less than 30 seconds; we hear from a Portland, Ore., man who has created a web-enabled cat toy that allows anyone anywhere to interact with live cats at several humane societies across the country; Ripley archivist Edward Meyer informs us that he has actually stood on (a piece of) Mars; and Ralf tells us about a woman in Michigan who has worked at the same KFC restaurant for 50 years, and to make things even stranger, her daughter has worked at that same restaurant for the past 34 years!
Miley Cyrus loves to have fun, and she provides our musical egress this week with her own version of Girls Just Want to Have Fun!
Richard Reames grows boats and chairs! He plants trees in a pattern, waters and waits as they grow into what he wants them to be. He visits Ripley Radio, the official radio show of Ripley’s Believe It or Not! this week and tells us how, and why, he does this. Chad Lewis takes us on a road trip to Southern Wisconsin, where he discovers the Garden of Eden.
Additional weird, crazy, strange and wacky stories on the May 5 Edition of Ripley Radio includes: Skidmore College is offering a summer course based on Miley Cyrus. Ralf finds out it’s much more than a class on popular culture when he talks with the assistant professor who will be teaching it; Angela reports on a new cell phone fit for the spies amongst us – it self-destructs if tampered with; Chad Lewis tells the tale of a mansion that purportedly grew and shrank on its own, and nobody could figure out how it did it; In her Weird Medical Malady Minute, Jodi Pliszka informs us if the doctor can’t figure out what’s ailing you, check out what alien objects you may have in your stomach; Award-winning Florida broadcaster Scott Fais describes a small island on Florida’s West Coast inhabited only by monkeys, with a warning to not get too close; A man on a business trip to Europe buys one of the missing Faberge Eggs from the Court of Imperial Russia for $15,000. He bought it for the gold value, not realizing at the time that it was worth many, many millions. We unveil its value; and we hear of a new mummy discovery in Germany. The mummified woman was discovered sitting in a chair in front of her turned-on television.
For our musical egress this week, we hear the award-winning country song by Kacey Musgraves, Merry Go ‘Round.
Margot Adler has read more than 270 books and in return, she has written a book about that experience, Vampires are Us, and brewmaster Justin Low is making beer with goat brains! We talk with both this week, on the April 28 edition of Ripley Radio, the official broadcast program of Ripley’s Believe It or Not!
Additional weird, crazy, strange and wacky stories on this week’s show includes: Sara Latta shares a few of the most bizarre phobias that she writes about in her new book, Scared Stiff, when she talks with Tim; Chad Lewis takes us back on the highway with a couple ideas for May road trips – to a Bonnie & Clyde Festival and to the world famous Pun-off; Florida broadcaster Scott Fais recalls the night he spent in a haunted mansion in St. Augustine; Angela reveals that there was a city named Vulcan, long before the Star Trek series began; and Ripley archivist Edward Meyer gets excited while telling us about the newest heads he has acquired for our already huge skull collection.
Focus provides the musical egress this week with the haunting, Hurkey Turkey.
Brittany Walsh shot an arrow at David Letterman and he loved it! Her “stupid human trick” was the hit of the night. This week on Ripley Radio, she tells us all about that night and how she hit her target, standing on her hands and shooting the bow with her feet! We also hear about a new revolution in tasting! A company has created an aromafork, a utensil that provides different flavors and smells to your food. The product goes on sale this summer.
Additional Weird, Wacky, and Strange Stories on the April 21 episode of Ripley Radio, the official radio program of Ripley’s Believe It or Not!: The apartment where President Barack Obama lived while attending Law School at Columbia University in New York City, is now a Bed and Breakfast and can be rented by the night; hikers going up Mt. Everest must now bring back an additional 17 pounds of trash, or be fined. Angela tells us it’s all a part of a major clean-up of the mountain; Chad Lewis takes us on a couple interesting road trips. First we go to a town in Pennsylvania that has been on fire for more than 50 years, and then to a valley in Missouri where a light mysteriously appears most nights. Nobody has been able to figure out where it comes from or where it goes when approached; Emmy-award winning TV reporter Scott Fais takes us to a swamp where a relative of Florida’s famed skunk ape has been seen; a pizza shop owner hates to see his pizza dipped in Ranch Dressing, so much that he charges $1,000 for anyone who wants some of the condiment; and Edward tells us that Ripley’s Bizarre Buying Bazaar will be at the Believe It or Not! museum in Panama City Beach, Fla., on April 18 and 19. He’ll be there with Ripley’s checkbook looking for oddities of all kinds to add to the Ripley’s archives.
Meklit provides this week’s musical egress with Slow.
Amelia Earhart to fly solo around the world! Big news then, big news now and Ripley Radio this week talks with the “new” Earhart as she plans her 28,000 mile journey. The 31-year old tells Ralf that with the name her parents gave her, she was destined to be a pilot. Most of us never have a near-death experience, but Brooklyn’s Robert Kopecky has had three and he tells Tim that each one was different and each taught him a different lesson. He shares those lessons with us and talks about his new book, “How to Survive Life and Death.”
Additional Weird, Wacky, and Strange Stories on the April 14 Episode of Ripley Radio, the official radio program of Ripley’s Believe It or Not!: On Wednesday, April 16, Mezco Toyz, the creators of the popular Living Dead Dolls will be displaying a time capsule full of product from the 16-year history of the doll series at the Ripley’s Believe It or Not! in Times Square, New York City. The capsule coffin will be interred and opened in 66.6 years. We hear more about this crazy publicity stunt from a company representative; Ripley archivist Edward Meyer notes how surprised he has been that Robert Ripley never wrote or drew anything about Amelia Earhart during his long career, but the company has since acquired several, which are now on display at the San Diego Air and Space Museum; Jodi Pliszka describes this week’s Weird Medical Malady as Hyper Empathy; Florida TV reporter Scott Fais gives us an alternative to a traditional church for Easter service this year, a drive-in church with plenty of coffee and doughnuts for everyone; and we hear that the Doomsday Seed Bank has added 20,000 new varieties of seeds, including 600 types of beer barley seeds!
Presidential conspiracies go back to the first assignation of a U.S. president. This week on Ripley Radio, the official broadcast program of Ripley’s Believe It or Not!, historian James Taylor reveals that John Wilkes Booth, the actor who killed Abraham Lincoln, may not have been caught as thought and went on to live a long life and then a long second life on carnival and circus sideshows as a mummified exhibit. We also hear about MIT students who have created a way for a person to feel the sensations of the book that they are reading. It is truly a literary breakthrough!
Other Weird, Wacky and Strange Stories you will Hear on the April 7 Episode of Ripley Radio: Ripley archivist Edward Meyer picks up where James Taylor left off and explains that the body of John Wilkes Booth is actually hidden in a barn in Maryland and its owner has offered to sell it to Ripley’s on two different occasions. Edward explains why he hasn’t purchased it and why he doesn’t think it is genuine; Chad Lewis takes us on a road trip to the site of an alien landing in Aztec, N.M., and to an Enchanted Highway in North Dakota; Hollywood’s Dr. Edward Lamadrid explains the alternative and often kooky medical procedures the stars and starlets of Tinseltown choose, including the newest rage – cupping; Angela advises us if we mix our alcoholic drinks with a diet soda, any Breathalyzer test will spike an additional 18% over what it would be if we mixed it with regular soda; and Ralf celebrates that this year’s Ducktona 500 will take place now that rubber duck racing is legal in Wisconsin.
We go back into the vinyl archives to present this week’s musical egress, Song on the Radio, by Al Stewart..
Ripley’s has the world’s greatest collection of shrunken heads, but we also have a couple very rare shrunken torsos and dozens of mummified body parts in the archives. James Taylor’s series on mummies continues this week on Ripley Radio, the official broadcast program of Ripley’s Believe It or Not! and Ripley archivist Edward Meyer joins in the dialogue of the mysteries of Dr. Struve’s shrunken bodies. Jodi Pliszka reports on a weird medical malady in which a person can’t stop giving things away. She calls it pathological generosity. Additional Weird, Wacky, and Strange Stories you’ll hear on the March 31 Edition of Ripley Radio: Alaska has its Iditarod and Brooklyn, N.Y. has its Idiotarod, a sport in which involves pushing people around in shopping carts. The former thinks the New Yorker’s are infringing on their brand and have issued a warning; Chad Lewis takes us on a road trip to Austin, Minn. where we visit the famous Spam Museum; Ralf tells the story of how 90 cows in Germany raised the roof of their barn, as a result of their bovine belching and flatulence; Angela reports on some of the greatest April Fool’s Day pranks of all time, ranging from a guy who faked a volcano eruption to a team in Italy that picked pasta off their spaghetti trees; and speaking of mummies, the mummified body of a lady who had been dead for six years, was found in the backseat of her car, in her garage. No one had looked in there for six years!
Lorde provides this week’s musical egress with Team.
It’s springtime at Ripley Radio, the official radio program of Ripley’s Believe It or Not!, and that means more unbelievable baseball oddities and April Fool’s Day pranks. We talk with our favorite weird baseball mogul, Mike Veeck and he tells us of his plans to feature bobble legs, instead of bobble heads, this summer in honor of his father’s peg leg. We also hear from the manager of the Lehigh Valley IronPigs about his team’s bacon-themed uniforms and the scratch and sniff bacon t-shirts in the team’s gift shop. He also announces that he won the best minor league promotion of the season last year with his men’s room urinal video games.
Additional Weird and Wacky Stories you’ll Hear on the March 24 Edition of Ripley Radio: Sideshow historian James Taylor begins a three-week series on contemporary mummies by telling the tale of Elmer McCurdy who was passed around amongst exhibitors until he ended up in an amusement park dark ride with his owners thinking he was made of paper Mache, until the day his arm fell off; Edward tells us about the three carnival sideshow mummies that Ripley has in its collection and how each is equally weird and different; Chad Lewis digs into history and explains why April first is the prank-filled day it is and reports on a few of his favorite pranks of all times; and Angela and Ralf disclose the greatest baseball pranks ever pulled.
And in keeping with our tribute to mummies, we feature the Nashville-based funk band, Here Come the Mummies with Jump on my Ship as this week’s musical egress.
Believe It or Not! there is an event in Japan in which Sumo wrestlers compete in how long and loud they can make babies cry. The 400-year old traditional spring competition is coming up in April and you’ll hear all about this week from Chad Lewis on Ripley Radio, the official radio program of Ripley’s Believe It or Not! We’ll also hear from a professor of a popular course in death and dying at Cal State who also runs a hospice for dogs on death’s door.
Additional Weird and Wacky Stories you’ll Hear on the March 17 Episode of Ripley Radio: Ralf provides the ultimate answer to why the chicken crossed the road, at least in Gainesville, Fla.; Angela tells us that $4.5 billion worth of booze will be consumed on St. Patrick’s Day; Edward is headed to Phoenix this weekend for Ripley’s Bizarre Buying Bazaar at the Arizona Science Center; we hear of students who mixed jelly fish and a peanut butter concoction and now have living peanut butter jelly fish; Robert Robinson, author of the new book, Legend Tripping – The Ultimate Family Experience explains how much fun it is to take your entire family out looking for ghosts, aliens and bigfoot; and the feel good story of the week features an interview with Ressurrection Graves, a former homeless executive in Washington DC who found a husband and founded a national charity all while homeless.
Our musical egress this week is Holding on for Life, by the Broken Bells.
This week on Ripley Radio, the official radio program of Ripley’s Believe It or Not! features a fellow who has kissed the famous Blarney Stone in Ireland. Chad Lewis claims that it has helped him with his gift of gab. In our popular Weird Medical Malady of the Week segment, Jodi Pliszka explains the rare Exploding Head Syndrome, in which a person experiences strange and strong auditory hallucinations while sleeping.
Additional Weird and Wacky Facts you’ll Hear on the March 10 Episode of Ripley Radio: The Safe House restaurant in Milwaukee has been named by Readers Digest as one of the weirdest places to eat in America. What makes it weird? There are no exterior signs, the doors stay locked and you need a special password to get in. Agent Shauna, the official spokesperson for the spy-themed eatery fascinates Ralf with her stories; As a student project at an Iowa high school, teacher John Cisna went on a 90-day diet, eating only at McDonald’s and ended up losing 37 pounds and becoming much healthier. Cisna tells us all about it; Lynn Waddell, author of Fringe Florida, closes out her four-week run with us and discloses more Florida weirdness from her popular book; Ralf reports that an Ohio man had been planning his funeral for decades and earlier this year when he died, his wishes were granted and he was buried, sitting up on his Harley Davidson motorcycle, with his helmet on, in a huge Plexiglas coffin; and we hear about police in China, Maine, responding to loud screams and noise that neighbors thought was a domestic violence incident. The screams turned out to be from a male pig that was put into a pen with five female pigs in heat!
In honor of St. Patrick’s Day and in homage to Irishmen throughout the world, Ireland’s own Saw Doctors provide this week’s musical egress, FCA. (Ireland’s Army reserve forces).
The world’s largest vinyl record now serves as the roof of the Forum in Los Angeles. The huge copy of the Eagles’ Hotel California spins at 17 miles-per-hour and has 15,000 LED lights. Angela reports on the unique addition to the LA skyline on this week’s Ripley Radio, the official radio program of Ripley’s Believe It or Not! The Denver (Colo.) County Fair plans to get in on the legalized marijuana bandwagon in August, by offering up what could possibly be America’s first legal Pot Pavilion. The fair’s Tracy Weil explains why they are doing it and what they plan to feature inside during the event.
Additional Weird and Wacky facts you’ll hear on the March 3 Episode of Ripley Radio: Yes, it is true. Actor Dan Ackroyd has joined the sheriff’s department in Mississippi. Sheriff Tyronne Lewis joins us and relates how he met Ackroyd and why deputizing the actor is a great idea; Ripley’s official illustrator John Graziano drops by and explains what a precise task it is to produce the daily Ripley’s Believe It or Not!, the world’s longest running cartoon panel; Lynn Waddell, author of Fringe Florida, explains why the state of Florida has more nudist colonies than any other state and communicates with us about her recent visit to one of the largest; Ralf relates the painful experience of a woman who had a porcupine land, upside down, on top of her head; and in our Weird Medical Malady of the Week segment, Jodi Pliszka reports on a woman who received a flu shot and can now only walk backward. It’s weird, it’s true and it’s right here on the Ripley Radio Oddcast.
Rick Vito, a former member of Fleetwood Mac and a Grammy-nominated guitar player, provides this week’s musical egress, Voodoo Woman.
Ripley Radio, the official radio show of Ripley’s Believe It or Not! talks with the world’s oldest Facebook user,105 year old Edythe Kirchmaier this week. We called her at work and she took a few minutes off to chat with Ralf with an F. We also talk with Tad Johnson, of the Brainerd, Minn. Jaycees, the organizer of the world’s largest charity ice fishing tournament which hosted 10,000 fishermen this year, all huddled around little holes drilled in the ice!
Additional Weird and Wacky Facts you’ll Hear on the February 24 Episode of Ripley Radio: Chad Lewis takes us on a trip to a roadside attraction in Iowa, a 1912 house where a gruesome ax murder took place in 1912. One can now visit the house, and if you prefer, can bring along a sleeping bag and sleep overnight on the floor, for only $450; Jodi Pliszka explains that 15% of the population has Vampire Syndrome. Tune in to see if you could be afflicted; Ralf reports that mile marker 420 on Interstate 70 in Colorado keeps getting stolen, so authorities solved the problem by posting a mile marker 419.99 sign a few feet down the highway; Angela lists the weird holidays coming up in March; and Lynn Waddell, author of “Fringe Florida,” explains the sport of swamp buggy racing and tells us about her ride on the Redneck Royalty.
Bastille performs Pompeii as this week’s musical egress.
It’s World Sword Swallowers Day on Saturday, February 22, and more than 30 performers will be displaying their dangerous art at 15 Ripley’s Believe It or Not! Odditoriums and at the Arizona Science Center in Phoenix. The originator of this weird and strange event is Dan Meyer and he stops by to tell us why the day is so special AND important not only to fans of the sideshow arts, but to the world medical community as well. We also hear from Alexandra Chauran on the February 17 edition of Ripley Radio, the official radio program of Ripley’s Believe It or Not! The author of “Have You Been Hexed?” she will educate us on how to tell if we’ve been hexed, and as a bonus, she’ll tell us how to put a hex on someone else!
Additional Weird and Wacky facts you’ll hear this week on Ripley Radio: Jodi Pliszka talks about Stone Man’s syndrome, a condition in which a person’s muscles turn into bone; Ralf talks with Pasco County (Fla.) sheriff’s spokesman Doug Tobin about a man who was shot as he drove along in his car, not realizing immediately that he was shot; Angela updates us on Ripley’s two touring shows, one in San Diego and one in Phoenix; John Graziano, Ripley’s official illustrator joins us in the studio and explains how it took him 25 years to land his dream job; and Lynn Waddell, author of “Fringe Florida,” is also an in-studio guest and talks about the strange and wild exotic animal sanctuaries in the state of Florida.
Shakira, with the help of Rihanna, provides us with this week’s musical egress, Can’t Remember to Forget You.
With Valentine’s Day approaching, this episode of Ripley Radio, the official radio show of Ripley’s Believe It or Not! could prove to be a life saver for the lovelorn. Ripley’s resident witch, Judika Illes has shared with us step by step instructions on how to cast a love spell on that person you have had your eyes on. You don’t want to miss this! Also, Chad Lewis shares his research on some of the items that people have married – including dolls and an amusement ride. Really! He also describes several unusual and strange wedding chapels.
Additional Weird and Wacky facts on the February 10 edition of Ripley Radio: Ralf talks with the man behind the largest gingerbread house ever made; perhaps the only drivable truck, made out of 11,000 pounds of ice, was created in Toronto for Canadian Tire and they made a TV commercial out of the process; Joe Kasinski of Ripley’s Orlando Believe It or Not! Odditorium drops by for another visit and tells us how popular Ripley’s famous Fertility Statues remain, with some traveling thousands of miles just to rub the two ebony statues; and Angela tells us that while pizza is indeed from Italy, pasta actually has its roots in China. Believe It or Not!
The Imagine Dragons provide our musical egress this week with Demons.
Do real witches like how television portrays their kind? This week on Ripley Radio, the official radio show of Ripley’s Believe It or Not!, our friendly witch Judika Illes reviews a couple shows that were popular in 2013 that featured witches. We hear that in the end, it’s all great entertainment. Just because its winter, doesn’t mean the outside weirdness has to stop. Chad Lewis takes us to a downhill shovel race championship and then to an international water tasting festival.
Additional Weird and Wacky facts on the February 3 edition of Ripley Radio: Joe Kasinski of Ripley’s Orlando Odditorium, joins us and reports that several new attractions are being built near the Ripley’s location on popular International Drive, including the tallest observation Ferris Wheel in the state; police spokesperson Tiffany Wood relates how a contest winner for the TV show Breaking Bad ended up getting himself busted for drugs; Angela continues her series on weird football facts when she tells us that in an average National Football League game, the ball is in play for less than 11 minutes; and we hear how a small town beer pub owner took on giant Starbucks in a copyright infringement squabble.
Ke$ha joins Pitbull this week for our musical egress, Timber.
This week’s strange happenings on Ripley Radio, the official broadcast program of Ripley’s Believe It or Not! includes a roundup of the weirdest and oddest things about the National Football League, just in time for Super Bowl Sunday! Did you know that more than 70% of NFL players go broke within a few years of leaving the sport? Details on this and many other strange facts will be shared. Also, we’ll hear about thieves who not only stole beer from a Florida Walmart, but they also inadvertently stole the manager as well! Additional Weird, Wild and Wacky Stories on the January 27 episode of Ripley Radio includes: Jodi Pliszka talks about a young boy whose body is totally covered in fish-like scales; Chad Lewis reports on the largest city-wide murder mystery weekend ever held in the U.S.; Joe Kasinski of Orlando’s Believe It or Not! Odditorium gets a chance to boast about his newest exhibits; Ralf talks with 11-year old Aidan Fisher, whose guitar playing video on YouTube has taken the world by storm; and we learn of a new endurance running record by a New Zealand woman who ran 310 miles straight – in three days, without rest! Holly Williams, the grand-daughter of country music legend Hank Williams, and a star in her own right, provides our musical egress this week with a contemporary drinking song from her newest album, The Highway, simply called Drinkin’.
After years of being challenged because her full name wasn’t on her official identification, Hawaiian resident Janice “Lokelani” Keihanaikukauakahihuliheekahaunaele (go ahead, try it) has won a personal battle and the state is now required to print the entire name on her driver’s license. Ripley Radio talks with the former Miss Hawaii, now a TV reporter, about what is being called a “great day” for all Hawaiians. And in Harrisburg, Pa., a huge strawberry fell and broke but a new one was prepared in time for New Year’s Eve. What’s all that about? We hear what happened this week on the official radio program of Ripley’s Believe It or Not!
Additional Wacky and Unbelievable Stories on the Jan. 20 episode of Ripley Radio: Chad Lewis tells us about his most popular road trip of 2013, from Minnesota to South Dakota, with several stops at funky roadside attractions along the way; Author and Disneyphile Sam Gennawey’s new book, The Disneyland Story, provides an inside scoop on the making of the happiest place on earth and relates a couple weird and strange stories he uncovered along the way; Joe Kasinski of the Orlando Believe It or Not! Odditorium joins us in-studio and promotes what’s new at his location, including a new painting done only in mustard and ketchup; and speaking of ketchup, Angela reports on what we probably don’t know about Heinz Ketchup.
The critically acclaimed art pop tune, Royals, by New Zealand teenager Lorde, is our strange and beautiful musical egress this week.
One of the strangest men to ever work the circus sideshows of the U.S. is Bill Durks, who was billed as the man with three eyes and two noses. This week on Ripley Radio, the official radio program of Ripley’s Believe It or Not!, sideshow historian James Taylor talks about this most unusual man. Also, Chad Lewis recalls his favorite road trip of 2013 and how he unexpectedly discovered the home of Winnie the Pooh. Additional Wacky and Unbelievable Stories on the Jan. 13 episode of Ripley Radio: Jodi Pliszka reveals the top three medical maladies she reported on in 2013, including one in which uses maggots for part of its cure; Ralf gets shut down by an editor at the Denver Post when he calls to ask about the position of editor for their recreational marijuana website; Celebrity TV reporter Scott Fais reports on an odd trip through a dark ride at a German theme park that would have parents in the U.S. loudly complaining; Angela points out that there is a difference between a geek and a nerd; Ralf reveals that a recent poll shows that people in Ohio cuss more than anyone else; and Ripley archivist Edward Meyer unveils the Top 10 items that he acquired during 2013. For our musical egress this week, the Lovin’ Spoonful asks the question, Do You Believe in Magic?
Happy New Year and may it be as Weird, Wacky and Wonderfully strange as you wish it to be. A good place to start that journey is by listening to Ripley Radio, the official radio show of Ripley’s Believe It or Not! every week in 2014! It’s Wacky guaranteed. This week, James Taylor, our sideshow historian talks with us about Bruce Snowden, the last Fat Man to work the carnival midways of America and Chad Lewis, our intrepid reporter unveils the monster that we all need to be on the look-out for this year – the Slender Man Monster, who was born on the internet. A strange story indeed.
Additional Wacky and Unbelievable Stories on the January 6 episode of Ripley Radio: We hear from Rabbi Noah Muroff, who found nearly $100,000 in cash in a second-hand desk he purchased. Tune in to see what the good Rabbi did with his found treasure; Juli Moody, the self-proclaimed Female Human Link, is a very, very strong lady. She explains how she was tethered to two motorcycles going in opposite directions and was able to stop them both – dead in their tracks; Florida TV celebrity reporter Scott Fais joins us and reveals his favorite weird stories of 2013, and one includes watching alligators hatch – in your own hand; and Ripley Archivist Edward Meyer presents his “Weirdest Acquisition of the Year” list of 2013 and strangely enough, it includes a McDonald’s Happy Meal he received in the mail.
Rock and Roll Hall of Famers, Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers present this week’s musical egress, the 1994 hit, American Girl.
A week after Christmas and still in the holiday spirit, Ripley Radio, the official broadcast program of Ripley’s Believe It or Not! takes a look at the darker side of the jolly fat guy dressed in red, including a glimpse at Krampus, which legend says follows Santa around and eats little kids who have been bad. We also hear that our dearly deceased friends and relatives may be trying to reach us from the other side. Author Joe Higgins explains a few ways they may be trying to reach us.
Also on the December 30 episode, Scott Douglas of Runner’s World magazine tells us about a runner who completed a full marathon wearing only store bought flip flops, and Jodi Pliszka explains why doctors implanted horns on the head of an infant boy.
Musical stylist, the late Eartha Kitt, provides us with our Christmas musical egress this week with the best recording ever of Santa Baby.
You’re not going to hear any sappy holiday music this week on Ripley Radio’s first-ever Strange and Weird Christmas Music special. No Alvin and the Chipmunks, or Snoopy, or probably anything you’ve ever heard. While most of the staff took the week off, co-host Ralf, with an F snuck into Ripley’s musical archives and pulled out some of the strangest stuff that even he thinks is over the top. He put together a fun and odd show that is destined to become a holiday classic on Internet Radio!
Among others, you’ll hear on the official radio program of Ripley’s Believe It or Not!, are Weird Al, the South Park gang, and the Jingle Babies sing their renditions. You’ll also hear Zombie Christmas, the first recording Jon Bon Jovi ever made (and probably won’t admit it today), comedian Steve Martin with a most irreverent Christmas story, The Four Seasons, and Paul Simon. Ralf offers up a “Name the artist of that weird song” quiz as well as some facts that you probably didn’t know about Christmas.
Ozzy Osbourne provides the quite freaky (even for him) musical egress on this first tribute to weird music, with his rendition of a Christmas Classic, done in true Black Sabbath style!
Twas the week before Christmas and things got weirder than usual on Ripley Radio, the official radio broadcast of Ripley’s Believe It or Not! We hear how hot-dog eating champion Joey Chestnut added dessert to his repertoire and won a Twinkie eating contest by downing more than 10 pounds of those sweet little delights accounting for 18,000-plus calories! And, Jodi Pliszka reveals how drinking a whole lot of cola over a long period of time, can be quite detrimental to your health.
Additional Wacky and Unbelievable Stories on the Dec. 16 episode of Ripley Radio: Angela unveils where the most unusual, and most dangerous drinking locations are in the world; Florida TV personality Scott Fais explains how the state’s snowbirds this year may be upset to learn that a popular hot springs soaking spot located in a deep sinkhole, has been closed; in Texas, lightning does strike twice when it hits the same man twice within seconds while he competed in the off-road challenge – Paychecks for Rednecks; and Varla Ventura, author of Banshees, Werewolves, Vampires and Other Creatures of the Night, provides a primer on the Irish fairy creature, the Banshee.
Chris Kenner provides this week’s musical egress with the original version of 1961’s I Like it Like That!
A strange but true story kicks off this week’s episode of Ripley Radio, the official radio program of Ripley’s Believe it or Not!, when we hear from surfer dude Jeff Horton on how he knocked out a shark that attacked him off the coast of Hawaii – with his fists. Chad Lewis reports on a 1961 event in which aliens stopped by a Wisconsin farmhouse and traded saucer pancakes for a fresh supply of water. Witnesses throughout town reported seeing the spacecraft as well, but by all reports, they didn’t get any pancakes. Additional Wacky and Unbelievable Stories on the Dec. 9 episode of Ripley Radio: Jodi Pliszka reports on a malady in which hair is growing out of an individual’s eyeball; Ralf talks about a dandelion plant, in near bloom, that a doctor removed from a child’s ear; Orlando TV celebrity Scott Fais tells us that snowbird season has now officially begun in Florida; and TV reporter Carrie Vick reveals the real purpose why a 6th grade student has worn a Green Bay Packers jersey, without ever taking it off, for more than two years. The Rosebuds provide this week’s musical egress with a new Christmas song, Journey to Christmas Island.
How does a beer brewed with meteorite dust really taste? Or, how about diving into the world’s largest chicken nugget? That’s just two of the weird stories we explore this week on Ripley Radio, the official radio show of Ripley’s Believe It or Not! Additional Wacky and Unbelievable Stories on the Dec. 2 episode of Ripley Radio: We triple-dog-dare you to travel to Hammond, Ind. to admire a new statue commemorating the movie classic, “A Christmas Story,” which highlights that horrifying moment in the film when Ralphie’s friend Flick is dared to lick the frozen flagpole in the middle of winter. We talk with city officials about the statue and the fame the movie has brought to the city. Jodi Pliszka tells us that drinking full strength soy sauce can be fatal and Chad Lewis reveals where this year’s hot festivals celebrating the bad dude of Christmas, Krampus, will be held. Australia’s Boom! Bap! Pow! provides the catchy musical egress this week with Suit.
The elderly rock this week on Ripley Radio. 76-year old Dr. Stanley Paris, already a record setter in several categories, is setting out to be the oldest and the fastest person to ever sail around the world – solo!; Ward Hall, the King of the Sideshow, is still on the bally stage in front of his sideshow at 84 and has no plans to retire; and Audrey Crabtree finally received her high school diploma at 99 years of age. We talk with Paris and Crabtree about their activities and achievements and sideshow historian James Taylor visits us and talks about one of the most unusual men he has ever met in his life - Ward Hall. Additional Wacky Stories on the Nov. 18 episode of Ripley Radio, the official radio show of Ripley’s Believe it or Not! The planet’s most unusual alcoholic drinks, including seagull wine, are discussed; and we hear from author Todd Borandi, who wrote the book, “Awakening among Zombies and Vampires,” visits and explains how he went from being a zombie to being a vampire to a being a fully aware human! He tells us how he did it! Katy Perry provides this week’s musical egress with her new hit, Roar!
Another eclectic roundup of weird, wild and unbelievable news this week on Ripley Radio, the official radio show of Ripley’s Believe it or Not! We hear about a five year old youngster who is serving his second term as mayor of the Restaurant Capital of the World, Dorset, Minn. Laura and Rick, local restaurant owners talk with us about their friend the mayor; A deaf dog gets the credit for foiling a home invasion by sensing the intruder was someone to play with and started jumping around on the wood floor, making noise that awoke its owner who came out of the bedroom brandishing a gun. We talk with the newsman who uncovered this unbelievable story. Additional Wacky Stories on the Nov. 11 episode includes: Author Lynn Waddell has written “Fringe Florida,” a book that proves what we’ve been saying for years on Ripley Radio. Florida is a very weird state. She shares several stories from her book with us; in our medical malady of the week segment, Jodi Pliszka reports on the sad story of two brothers whose illness causes them to grow mentally younger day by day; and we learn of yet another specialty product for the bacon lover – bacon body scrub! Anna Kendrick provides us with our musical egress this week, with When I’m Gone.
In an enlightening interview, Ripley Radio listeners learn this week how to repel the harmful curses of the fairy kingdom, when we talk with the insightful Clint Marsh about the new insightful book, “Goblinproofing One’s Chicken Coop.” Chad Lewis drops by and tells us that much of what we know about Ma Barker, the legendary gang leader of the 1930s is myth. Also on the November 4 episode of Ripley Radio, the official radio program of Ripley’s Believe It or Not!, we address the end of the world, as we know it. Author Laura Barcella joins us to discuss how pop culture has addressed 50 different apocalyptic visions. We also hear of a book written with disappearing ink and Mary Hayes from Cassadaga, Fla., the psychic capital of the world, explains how she channels and a little about the spirits on the other side who help her. When My Train Pulls In, by newcomer Gary Clark Jr., is our musical egress this week. ”
It’s Halloween week and we’ve gone a little crazy here at Ripley Radio, the official radio program of Ripley’s Believe It or Not! Spooky and weird, but true, that’s what we’re all about. To really get us in the haunting mood, we visit with Patrick Konopelski, owner of Shocktoberfest, the Sinking Spring, Pa.’s popular haunted adventure that this year is offering a “Naked and Scared Challenge.” He’ll tell us how he got the idea and how much grief he is getting from local authorities. We also hear from TAP’s Ghost Hunter star Amy Bruni as she visits with Ralf while in St. Augustine Fla., in search of the paranormal. Additional Weird, Wild and Wacky Stories on the October 21 Halloween Episode includes: We return to Barry Anderson’s Ghoul School this week and learn that the mad professor’s passion for the macabre often turns into a way of helping criminal investigation authorities teach their own and solve crimes; Scott and Sprout, representing Florida’s Peace River Ghost Tracker group are in the studio with us to talk about their adventures; journalist Penny Musco set out to find America’s most haunted cities, and she’s hear to report her findings; and Ralf and Angela report on some fun facts about Halloween and how the bonfire and the Jack Lantern got their names. We have a lot of fun this week with creepy and silly music and we just had to end the show with a Halloween classic. Bobby Boris Picket provides our musical egress this week with the original, and still the best version ever of “Monster Mash.”
In celebration of Freaky October, we return to Ghoul School this week and welcome back its tenured professor, Barry Anderson. Bram Stoker Award horror writer and cemetery caretaker Owl Goingback joins us and talks about the horror genre of writing and about his haunting experiences at Central Florida’s spookiest resting place. We also talk with Mick Gooch of the United Kingdom who explains how he has set several world records by performing one finger pushups – most recently - on top of a nail! Believe It or Not! Additional Weird, Wild and Wacky Stories on the October 14 Halloween Episode of Ripley Radio, the official radio show of Ripley’s Believe It or Not!, includes: Rick Davis, director and co-founder of the Darkride and Funhouse Enthusiasts group requests the help of all Halloween lovers to help the initiative to have Congress create a National Haunted House Day; In her Weird Medical Malady segment, Jodi Pliszka introduces us to a young woman who can’t gain, or maintain her weight, no matter how much she eats; and Angela reports on the October happenings at Ripley’s Haunted Adventures attractions around the world. Our musical egress this week is the haunting Who Can it Be Now? by the Australian group, Men Down Under.
It’s October and that means a month made for Ripley’s! This week we broadcast from Orlando’s Ghoul School and kick the month off right - sitting amongst some of the creepiest creations a human can make. Ghoul School proprietor and horror make-up artist Barry Anderson and horror film writer and director Steven Shea are our in-studio guests and they tell us why people love horror and what is so intriguing about the horror genre. Additional Weird, Wild and Wacky Stories on the October 7 Episode of Ripley Radio, the official radio show of Ripley’s Believe It or Not!, includes: we hear from a San Francisco photographer who specializes in capturing frames of artistic fire while risking damage to himself as well as his camera equipment; manager of Ripley’s Believe It or Not! in St. Augustine, Fla., Kim Kiff explains how she uses a live, two-headed turtle to help teach school kids about the badness of bullying; and a man who has been honored by four presidents for his part in helping clean up inland rivers talks about the amazing collection of weird stuff he has found along the banks of those rivers – including dead bodies, bowling balls and voodoo dolls. Screamin’ Jay Hawkins provides this week’s musical egress with his classic, I Put a Spell on You!
TWe salute the seductive sirens of the sea this week on Ripley Radio, the official broadcast program of Ripley’s Believe It or Not! We ask the question, are they real? Although she hasn’t seen one, Varla Ventura believes there are live mermaids in the vast depths of the seas. We talk with her about her new book, “Among the Mermaids,” in which she presents a wide array of stories, myths, and legends. Stayce McConnell, a “live” mermaid who has performed at Florida’s Weeki Wachee State Park for 14 years, stops by and tells us how cool it really is to be a working mermaid every day of your life.
Additional Weird, Wild and Wacky Stories on the September 30 Episode of Ripley Radio includes: Jessica Mula of Ripley’s Aquarium in Myrtle Beach, SC, tells us about the live mermaid shows at her aquarium as well as Ripley’s Aquarium of the Smokies, in Gatlinburg, Tenn.; Angela reports on a new Nike store in Japan that was built from the ground up with up-cycled garbage; Florida TV personality Scott Fais joins us in the studio to tell us about his mermaid experiences; and we kick off a new segment, The Weekly Wheel of the Weird, in which we pick a random location each week and search for its weirdness. This week, a little town in Wisconsin was selected and we found living there Don Gorski, who has eaten more than 26,000 McDonald’s Big Mac sandwiches during his life and at age 60, he continues to eat at least two a day.
In keeping with this week’s theme, Train gives us our musical egress with “Mermaid.”
Been to the Devil’s Rope Museum lately? Or have you seen the huge Blue Whale? This week on Ripley Radio, the official broadcast program of Ripley’s Believe It or Not!, Chad Lewis takes us on a funky road trip that the entire family will recollect forever. Also, we hear about a few of the new phobias found within our modern day culture. How about Nomophobia, the fear of losing one’s mobile phone. Additional Weird, Wild and Wacky Stories on the September 23 Episode of Ripley Radio includes: Cops in Seattle handed out Doritos to the stoners at the recent Hempfest in that city and the spokesman for the police department joins us to explain why it was a successful way to communicate the new marijuana law; In her segment, Weird Medical Maladies, Jodi Pliszka talks about a young woman who sees everything upside down and how she has coped with it since birth; Orlando and Tampa TV personality Scott Fais visits our studios this week and takes us on a few of his favorite road trips in Florida; and co-host Ralf (with an f), demonstrates just how hard it is to create a story for Ripley Radio, as he tries to track down a person who can talk about the wild animal that’s loose in Detroit. Bruno Mars provides this week’s musical egress with his current hit, “Treasure.”
The fall is a great time to take a family road trip and visit a bunch of weird and wacky festivals, fairs or events. This week on Ripley Radio, the official broadcast program of Ripley’s Believe It or Not!, Chad Lewis visits three such festivals, all set for late September. He visits a Bugfest, Mayberry Days, and a Road Kill Cook-off. Meanwhile, we hear from a popular saloon in the Great Northwest Territory of Canada, that someone swallowed the revered sour toe, which was supposed to remain in the glass after that shot of Yukon Jack was gone. Additional Weird, Crazy, Bizarre and Strange Stories on the September 16 Episode of Ripley Radio includes: Ripley’s own Solutionologist, Jodi Pliszka, explains the weird medical malady in which a young girl cries tears of blood, at least twice a day; we hear of a tipper gone wild in Utah who leaves tips that equal 2,000% of the restaurant and bar tab; and Florida TV personality Scott Fais relates a couple fun stories of weird road trips he took within Florida – all in the name of entertaining viewers. AVICII provides the musical egress this week with his hit, “Wake Me Up.”
This week on Ripley Radio, the official radio program of Ripley’s Believe It or Not!, we celebrate our fourth year anniversary of broadcasting. We begin our fifth weird and wacky year hearing from Don Donderi, a scientist who believes in the research that crews from UFOs landed on Earth and abducted humans and released them after who knows what took place. We also take a very humorous look at the worst song titles ever created. How about the country ditty entitled, “She Flushed me from the Bathroom of Her Heart?” Additional Weird, Crazy, Bizarre and Strange Stories on the September 9 Episode of Ripley Radio includes: Chad Lewis visits and tells us of his latest adventure – an expedition to find Peppy, the Lake Monster; Historian James Taylor explains what a pickled punk is and why they were such a popular exhibit on carnival midways as well as legitimate museums. They were also called Monster Baby shows, he explains; Florida TV personality Scott Fais joins us and shares some of his personal experiences tracking the weird through questionably the weirdest state of them all, Florida; and Ripley archivist Edward Meyer announces the outcome of the latest Ripley contest, in which he received all sorts of things in the mail, without any type of packaging. His treasures range from a bowling ball to a full size painted mailbox to a toaster to a pink birdcage inhabited by a neon green flamingo. The first country music super group, which includes Vince Gill and Rodney Crowell, provide us with our musical egress this week, a song that made both the Worst Song Title of All Times list, as well as the Billboard charts in 2004, “It’s Hard to Kiss the Lips at Night that Chew Your Ass Out all Day Long.”
Disneyphile Chad Emerson has compiled a book of essays from Disney aficionados around the world to celebrate the four decades of Florida’s Walt Disney World. This week on Ripley Radio, the official radio program of Ripley’s Believe It or Not!, Chad shares with us some of the more unusual and amazing and unbelievable stories from his book. Additional Weird, Wacky and Wonderful Items Discussed on the September 2 episode of Ripley Radio: Intern Abby reports on a Knife Throwing Breast Surgeon; Author Dan Schlossberg covers some of the strange things we’re likely to experience during the Major League Baseball Season; Huffington Post’s Buck Wolf reveals what a lot of families are doing with the ashes of their dearly departed; We hear strange stories from Ripley’s Believe It or Not! book on Baseball Oddities; Edward Meyer tells us that fruitcakes play an important part in British family customs.B. Bumble and the Stingers provide our musical egress this week with “Baby Mash.”
Jody Pliszka visits us this week on Ripley Radio, the official radio program of Ripley’s Believe It or Not!, and explains what the Chinese Year of the Rabbit means to all of us and what we should expect if we were born under one of the five signs of the rabbit.Additional random amazements discussed this week on the August 26 Edition of Ripley Radio: Well-known TV writer and author David Bickell has an unusual and somewhat kooky book and website called Creepiosity. He talks with us about what he finds really creepy in this already strange world; Sideshow veteran and entrepreneur Ward Hall explains why he feels that freaks are still a viable entertainment option on today’s carnival midway; We meet Father John, the Carny Priest who travels across America tending to his flock of itinerant circus and carnival people; Intern Kyle introduces us to a man who has run 365 full marathons in 365 days; Ripley’s archivist Edward Meyer explains how the marathon got its name and describes the amazing collection of Olympic torches in the Ripley collection. Our musical egress this week is Pat Porter’s “Blues for Father John.”
“Bats Sing, Mice Giggle” is the name of the new book by Dr. Karen Shanor, a researcher who reveals some amazing and surprising facts about the way animals communicate. This week on Ripley Radio, the official radio program of Ripley's Believe It or Not!, Dr. Shanor shares some amazing research that is totally unbelievable. Additional random amazements discussed during the August 19 Episode of Ripley Radio: UFO Phil, perhaps one of the most unusual and fun guests ever on Ripley Radio unveils his plan to build a huge pyramid on the top of Pike’s Peak in Colorado so the aliens will have a place to land. He also sings for us and very secretively lists ways for us to tell the good aliens from the bad; Intern Abby provides a tale of a dog being elected as the mayor of a small Kentucky town; We hear about parrots that are trained to prevent crime; and we learn that Ripley’s has an amazing collection of weird, strange (and stuffed) animals in its vast archives. The Twelve Girls Band provides the musical egress this week with “Carnival.”
Gail Rubin’s slightly irreverent but quite practical look at death and funerals led her to be a part of this year’s Frozen Dead Guy Festival where she unveiled her new game, the NewlyDead Game. This week on Ripley Radio – An On-Demand Oddcast, the official radio station of Ripley’s Believe It or Not!, she talks with us about how to plan for your own funeral in a fun way.Other Unbelievable items discussed on the August 12 edition of Ripley Radio: Ripley’s favorite witch, Judika Illes talks about the recent edict from the Catholic Church about witches; Intern Kyle examines the Doomsday Seed Bank in Norway; Tim visits with sideshow legend 83-year old Ward Hall (seen at right in this amazing photo taken by Norman Blake) who talks about the importance of the sideshow talker, or the Bally, in any midway show; We find out what happened to the 100,000 t-shirts that were printed listing the wrong Super Bowl Champion (sorry Pittsburgh); We learn about the extensive collection of Ripley’s Believe It or Not! death-oriented exhibits, including Fantasy Coffins, the gallows from Chicago’s Cook County Jail, and the gas chamber chair from San Quentin Prison; and we are told that Robert Ripley’s last word spoken was AMEN, just before he collapsed on live television during a show on funeral customs. He died two days later. Our musical egress this week is the summer-time sound of Link Wray with his surf classic XKE Fender Benders.
There are still mysteries and controversy surrounding what many feel is the day the music died, Feb.3, 1959, when Buddy Holly, the Big Bopper and Richie Valens died in a plane crash. This week on the official radio station for Ripley’s Believe It or Not!, we talk with Gary Moore, author of the book “Hey Buddy” and he unveils what has not been told to us through the years. Additional random amazements discussed on the Aug. 5 Episode of Ripley Radio, the official radio program of Ripley’s Believe It or Not! include: We visit with a security guard in Nashville and hear about his Elvis sighting; Chris Epting explains what happened to the pyramid that traveled with rocker Todd Rundgren during the 1970s and in who’s backyard it is now standing; Edward Meyer, Ripley’s archivist tells us about a very large chunk of Elvis’s hair in the archives; Intern Abby unveils a very odd map of the US in which each state is identified by its biggest fault; Tim talks with the quirky CBS News correspondent Bill Geist as they walked through the Ripley’s Believe It or Not! odditorium in Orlando; and Ralf is impressed with the fact that a president of a country had a rap song recently on the charts.
Weird Animal Month continues on Ripley Radio, the official radio program of Ripley’s Believe It or Not!, this week as Jack Kassewitz, the world-famous modern day Dr. Doolittle, explains the value behind being able to talk with animals and we hear of a very strange Kangaroo round-up in Florida.
Additional Weird, Crazy, Bizarre and Strange Stories on the July 29 Episode of Ripley Radio includes: James Taylor reports on the famous Hubert’s Museum on Times Square in New York City, a hotspot of variety entertainment during the first half of the 20th century; Chad Lewis returns and tells us we should start getting in physical shape for two very off-beat festivals this fall – the Outhouse Races in Kentucky and the Coffin Races in Colorado; Ripley archivist Edward Meyer talks about the success of Ripley’s acquisition summer road show – The Bizarre Buying Bazaar; and TV personality and comedian Mitch English wraps up his month-long run with us by sharing more of his off-beat sense of humor.
Ronnie Spector, former lead singer of the 60s group, The Ronnettes, and former wife of producer and felon Phil Spector, provides our musical egress this week with All I Want.
Imagine having a weird medical malady that turns your entire family BLUE! Jodi Pliszka tells us all about that group of blue people this week on Ripley Radio, the official radio program of Ripley’s Believe It or Not! You’ll also learn of a real-life, modern day Dr. Doolittle who successfully talks to the animals. Additional Weird, Crazy, Bizarre and Strange Stories on the July 22 Episode of Ripley Radio includes: a big-time Barbie Doll collector whose home has been over-run by the 3,000 Barbies in her collection; Chad Lewis hits the road again this week and tells us about two non-mainstream family festivals – John Dillinger Days and the Garlic Festival; Angela reports on modern day cannibals, and Ripley’s archivist Edward Meyer talks about items in the Ripley collection pertaining to cannibalism, including two different heads of proven cannibals; and TV personality and comedian Mitch English’s attempt at trying to think of a cannibal joke is much funnier than the joke he comes up with!The family pop act from the sixties, The Cowsills, provides us with this week’s fun, summertime hit, The Rain, The Park and Other Things.
It’s mid-summer and Ripley Radio, the official broadcast station of Ripley’s Believe It or Not!, is taking you on a road trip to a couple unusual destinations this week. Chad Lewis is joining us to report on an underwater music festival and a Mothman fest. Dan Harmon, author of Super Pop, a book of Top 10 pop culture hits, will stop by and tell us why his new book will make its readers smarter, happier and more likely to survive a shark attack. Additional Weird, Crazy, Bizarre and Strange Stories on the July 15 Episode of Ripley Radio includes: Jodi Pliszka tells us about a weird medical malady that caused fingernails to grow out of a young woman’s pores over her entire body; National Geographic writer Jennifer Holland , author of Unlikely Friends, tells us about strange animal friendships; Dale Palzet, principal of an Illinois middle school reveals his school has a new Guinness World Record in the making - 24 sets of twins enrolled!; TV personality and comedian Mitch English is back with more zany, but true stories; and we hear about a Museum of Broken Relationships. For our musical egress this week, the Zombies salute summer with their bluesy rendition of Summertime.
Our month-long series of weird animal stories starts this month on Ripley Radio with the story of how a veterinarian saved the life of seven baby squirrels whose tails had been fused together and our U.S. National Park expert Mike Oswald returns to tell us some strange and unbelievable stories about the animals that live in our parks. Additional Weird, Strange, and Unbelievable Stories in the July 8 Edition of Ripley Radio, the official broadcast station of Ripley’s Believe It or Not!, include: Jodi Pliszka, Ripley’s own guru of weird medical maladies reports on some of the most unbelievable body-part re-attachments in medical history; Kirk Demarais, author of Mail Order Mysteries, explains the items that he highlights in his book -the small items once available for order from the back of cereal boxes and comic books; Mitch English, TV personality and comedian joins us in the studios for some fun and frolic; and sideshow and carnival fan extraordinaire Wayne Keyser joins us to talk about his radio show, Ballycast. John Fogerty provides the musical egress this week with his 1970 hit, Lookin’ Out My Backdoor.
It truly is a scary thought. Believe It or Not!, the woman who became notoriously known as the Tanning Mom is now an action figure! A toy and doll company in Connecticut is now selling the figure for $29.95. And what’s more, the company president tells Ralf, that his company can customize an action figure that looks like you! Tune in to this week’s Ripley Radio Oddcast for this truly bizarre story. Power to the People! is more than an anthem. Floor tiles are being installed In London, in time for the Olympics that can generate electricity when people step on them! Angela reports on this unbelievable new and efficient way to create energy! Additional Weird, Bizarre, Unusual and Unbelievable Stories Featured on the July 1 episode of Ripley Radio, the official broadcast program of Ripley’s Believe It or Not!: The Flea Circus was a big draw in Dime Museums and on carnivals for years and yes, they really used fleas as tiny little actors. Sideshow historian James Taylor explains the show and tells us briefly how to train a flea; Intern Abby reports that tens of millions of people still live in caves in China. The hillside holes can be rented or purchased and many are equipped with modern amenities; Our Weird Medical Malady of the Week is Kleptomania. Jodi Pliszka explains that it’s not all about stealing; A company is now selling salt “harvested” from people’s tears of joy, anger, sorrow and from cutting onions; and Ripley’s archivist Edward Meyer tells us that one of Ripley’s newest acquisitions is the full size “Bad to the Bone” motorcycle, made from the bones of road kill! In honor of the July 4 weekend, Katy Perry provides the musical egress this week with Firework.
Picture this. A giant bat-like creature, with glowing eyes comes out of a cave and terrorizes an Iowa town by night. It has a foul breath that seems to erase memory. Gun shots won’t stop it. Is it real or mythical? Tune in, Chad Lewis has the story of the Van Meter Visitor on the June 24 edition of Ripley Radio, the official broadcast partner of Ripley’s Believe It or Not!
Other intriguing, weird, bizarre and absolutely unbelievable things we discuss this week: Jodi Pliszka, Ripley’s Weird Medical Maladies ingénue reports on severe accidents in which severed body parts were re-attached successfully; A motorcycle crashes into the back of a truck and is demolished, broken into several pieces. There is no way a person could walk away from it. But the police could not find the motorcycle driver anywhere. We hear about the mystery this week; and author Jim Murphy wraps up a four-week series on hoaxes, as told from his new book, The Giant and How He Humbugged America.
This week’s timely musical egress is a true auditory artifact from 1972. Alice Cooper sings his hit, School’s Out.
Believe It or Snot, we have a story this week about a person who just thought he had a runny nose, but that run-off proved a little more critical than the common every-day drippage. It was brain fluid! We also hear from Chad Lewis who reports on one of the oldest community festivals in the US – the Hobo Festival in Iowa. Additional, amazing, unbelievable and bizarre stories on the June 3 edition of Ripley Radio, the official radio station of Ripley’s Believe It or Not! include: Historian James Taylor explains how important it is for all successful shows to have bright, colorful and descriptive signage; Ripley’s official cartoonist John Graziano joins us again this week and describes his unusual drawing techniques; and noted author Jim Murphy joins us again and tells us more tales of the modern day hoaxes he writes about in his new book, The Giant and How He Humbugged America.
We take a look into the great American Hoax this week on Ripley Radio, the official radio broadcast of Ripley’s Believe It or Not! Sideshow historian James Taylor talks about the great fakes of all times that were presented as real in museum and circus shows, Ripley archivist Edward Meyer takes a look at the fakes and labeled as such, in the Ripley collection and we continue our series with author Jim Murphy who reveals some of the more contemporary hoaxes contained in his book, The Giant and How He Humbugged America.
More amazing, unbelievable and bizarre stories on the June 10 episode of Ripley Radio include: Chad Lewis uncovers a controversy in which the owners of four different balls of twine claim theirs is the largest; Tim O’Brien promotes World Juggling Day, set for this Saturday, June 15 at 14 Believe It or Not! Odditoriums in three countries; the weird and wacky UFO Phil comes down from space long enough to talk with Ralf about being appointed the president of the planet by friendly aliens; and Ripley artist John Graziano sits in and explains the process of how he comes up with enough unbelievable facts to fill the popular Ripley cartoon for 365 days a year! Our musical egress this week is the up tempo and highly danceable new song by Selena Gomez, Come and Get it!
What does the Cardiff Giant and the Feejee Mermaid have in common? They are both major deceptions that have fooled millions over the years. This week on Ripley Radio, we begin a four-part series on the art of the hoax as we interview Jim Murphy, author of the new book, The Giant and How He Humbugged America. We also hear from Chad Lewis about the curse of the Porsche in which movie star James died.
Additional, amazing, unbelievable and bizarre stories on the June 3 edition of Ripley Radio, the official radio station of Ripley’s Believe It or Not! include: Princess Tarinan van Anhalt explains her specialty art work, created with the use of jet engines; the viral video of the bumbling would-be thief at Kent’s Meats and Groceries in Redding, Calif., has been turned into a successful TV commercial, which has also gone viral; Ripley archivist Edward Meyer talks about the well-known hoaxes and fakes that Ripley has collected for its archives; and official Ripley cartoonist John Graziano explains how anyone on this planet can get the daily Ripley’s Believe It or Not! cartoon delivered to their email box everyday – for free. American singer-songwriter Shannon Curfman provides this week’s musical egress with her bluesy rendition of The Weight.
Summer 2013 traditionally and officially begins at the grand conclusion of Coney Island’s Infamous Mermaid Parade, set to bedazzle the crowds on June 22 this year. Coney Island expert James Taylor drops by and tells us that the R-rated parade is the best thing outside of Mardis Gras and should not be missed. Jodi Pliszka explains how the once favored medical procedures using leeches are once again being used – to great success.
Additional, amazing, unbelievable and bizarre stories on the May 27, Memorial Day edition of Ripley Radio, the official radio station of Ripley’s Believe It or Not! include: James Taylor provides a brief overview of what Coney Island has had to do to prepare for its 2013 Summer Season, after taking a hard hit from Superstorm Sandy last fall; Chad Lewis tells us how cool it is to sleep in a tee-pee at Wig Wam Village, those funky roadside motels created in the shape of tee-pees. He says there are only three of the original Wig Wam motels still in business; TV reporter Noah Bond reports on a Mormon Bishop who went to the defense of his neighbor who was being robbed. He charged the thief with a sharp sword, while yelling out martial arts screams. The intruder fled and the bishop is a hero; and country crooner Garth Brooks belts out a not-so-country version of Shameless, our musical egress this week.
This week on Ripley Radio, the official radio program of Ripley’s Believe It or Not!, we laugh along with Flathead Ed of Arizona as he tells us how he landed the largest catfish ever caught in that state, and Mark Ross explains the International tension that has built up around claims of The Smallest Park in the World title. He tells us hands down that Portland, Oregon holds that honor. More amazing, unbelievable and bizarre stories on the May 20 episode of Ripley Radio include: Author and adventurer Mike Oswald introduces us to General Sherman, the world’s largest organism; historian James Taylor describes the unbelievable beginnings of Brooklyn’s Coney Island and the fact that had there been no amusement parks on Coney Island, there would be no Manhattan as we know it today; and The Pretenders provide us with this week’s musical egress, Brass in Pocket.
We take a different view of Zombies this week as we look at the pop culture side of the walking dead. We hear from Tony Rossi, the manager of the Georgia Coffee Shop and Café in the Georgia town where the popular Walking Dead TV series is filmed and he relates how much fun it is when the walking dead visit his eatery. Lucy Leitner tells us why Pittsburgh, Pa. is the epicenter of the Zombie movement in the US.
Additional Amazingly Strange, Weird and Unbelievable Stories we captured for the May 13 episode of Ripley Radio, the official radio partner of Ripley’s Believe It or Not! include: Chad Lewis explores the possibility that “real” zombies do actually exist, thanks to a Haitian process called zombification; Jodi Pliszka says the use of maggots is more common than one might believe in contemporary medical treatment; Zombie make-up artist Barry Anderson relates how funny it is to watch actors in full zombie makeup eat a sandwich during their meal break; and 1970s one-hit wonder Dean Friedman provides the musical egress this week with his catchy hit, Ariel.
Believe It or Not, during the 20th century, frozen whale carcasses were big draws on the circus and carnival midways! Historian James Taylor visits this week and talks about frozen whales, live whales and exploding whales. Mark Oswald wraps up his series on natural oddities and unbelievable sights at US National Parks, by telling us about the opportunity to walk right up to the crater of an active volcano.
More amazing, unbelievable and bizarre stories on the May 6 episode of Ripley Radio, the official radio program of Ripley’s Believe It or Not! include: Ryan DeSear, manager of Ripley’s Aquarium of the Smokies in Gatlinburg, Tenn., tells Ralf about the new Dinosaur exhibit that will be on display through the end of the year; Neal Thompson, the author of the new biography of Robert Ripley, “A Curious Man,” talks about his research and the amazing facts he uncovered about the curious man; and Stephen Stills provides the musical egress this week with Marianne.
Believe It or Not! there’s a perfume out there that makes you smell like a Zombie. What does a Zombie smell like? While hard to describe, Mark Crames, president of the company that manufactures it, explains why he created it and compares its smell to something that will make most of us cringe. Meanwhile, our intrepid reporter Chad Lewis tells of his search in Lake Pepin, Minn. for the famous monster named Pepie.
Additional Amazingly Strange, Weird and Unbelievable Stories we captured for the April 29 episode of Ripley Radio, the official radio partner of Ripley’s Believe It or Not! include: Ralf talks with newspaper reporter Janelle Wetzstein who tells the tale of the Petaluma Batman, a mysterious real life superhero who lives (and is loved) in this small California town; National Park historian and chronicler Mark Oswald continues his series this week and takes us to Yellowstone, revealing the strange, natural wonders of this huge national park; Barry Anderson, the professor and founder of Ghoul School, explains the hands-on approach his students take while creating body parts; and country newcomer Kacey Musgraves weaves a poignant trailer park story in our musical egress this week, Merry-Go-Round.
We begin a series of reports this week on the unbelievable, unusual and strange aspects of our US National Parks. Author Mike Oswald kicks the series off by revealing the one park that is many things - below sea level, the hottest, driest AND largest, and is the only place where one can go to see rocks that move by themselves! Chad Lewis returns to talk about one of the wackiest of all summer festivals, the UFO Festival in New Mexico. It’s one of this road warrior’s favorites. Other Strange, Weird and Unbelievable Stories we captured for the April 22 episode of Ripley Radio, the official radio partner of Ripley’s Believe It or Not! include: Ralf “with an F” reports on a thief in Michigan who returned money he stole, plus interest – 30 years later; Mark Stevens of Topps Sports and Entertainment talks about the unveiling of the world’s largest baseball card in Florida; the Ghoul School’s Barry Anderson recalls the day he was nearly arrested for transporting what appeared to be a decapitated body; Actor J Larose explains the sometimes painful process of having prosthetics applied in makeup prior to a horror film shoot; and The Reason provides our musical egress this week with Drive Me Home.
Artist Steve Casino has chosen an unusual medium for his art – peanut shells – on which he paints the famous and the infamous. He tells us how he does it and why he began this strange endeavor and what his friends really think of it (and him). Sideshow historian James Taylor relates the triumphant but somewhat tragic story of the sexiest and most talented con-joined twins of all times – the Hilton Sisters. From their mother selling them upon their birth to their nanny to their financially successful life on the vaudeville stages to their retirement jobs as dual cashiers at a Florida grocery store, James weaves their engrossing story.
Other Strange and Wonderfully Weird Stories We Captured for the April 15 Episode of Ripley Radio, the official radio partner of Ripley’s Believe It or Not!, include: Teen Ivan Barber has surgery for appendicitis only 10 hours before he takes the stage and wins a battle of the bands contest; T. Thorn Coyle explains how we can all easily “make magic” in our everyday lives; Ghoul School professor Barry Anderson joins us again and explains how his grandmother predicted an airplane event that nearly took the life of his father; and horror film actor J Larose returns and tells us how cool it was to be a part of career day at his kid’s elementary school along with all the doctors and lawyers and insurance salesmen parents of the other kids.
Actor J. Larose, star of several popular horror films, joins us this week to talk about the genre and why it is so appealing to the public and world-renown FX artist Barry Anderson describes his new adventure – Ghoul School where he teaches the precise and often macabre art of horror makeup.
Other Strange and Wonderfully Weird Stories We Captured for the April 8 Episode of Ripley Radio, the official radio partner of Ripley’s Believe It or Not!, include: Tommy Edison, known as the Blind Movie Critic tells Ralf why he doesn’t have to have vision to judge a film; James Lowe explains how the US Post Office is going to help reduce its huge deficit – by selling apparel and accessories; We hear how a mayor of a small town was chosen by pulling his name out of a hat; In the Jackpottin’ With James Taylor segment, we learn how the world’s top expert on sideshows started in the business; and Eddie Vedder and his ukulele provide this week’s musical egress with Longing to Belong.
This week on Ripley Radio, we present two unbelievable mysteries. What makes a person hiccup for seven years and is there really such a thing as spontaneous human combustion? Is there a cure and what is it like to live with continuous hiccups, and is there such a thing as spontaneous human combustion and if there isn’t, why do some people burn into a little pile of ash while nothing else around them is disturbed?
Other Strange and Wonderfully Weird Stories we captured for the April 1 episode of Ripley Radio, the official radio partner of Ripley’s Believe It or Not! include: Jim Morris, the baseball player on which the movie, The Rookie was based, talks with Ralf about his amazing adventure and answers the question, “what ever happened to” Jim Morris?; Tim talks about his book, Ripley’s Believe It or Not! Baseball Oddities and reads a few unbelievable factoids from its pages; The Defeat of Jess James Days, a festival in Minnesota, is Chad Lewis’s contribution to weird fairs and festivals this week; and British rocker Nick Lowe goes mellow and offers us Hope for Us All, this week’s musical egress.
One of the oldest cartoon characters in the world is Popeye the Sailor Man and this week we learn from Chad Lewis that Chester, Ill. lays claim as the hometown of the character and each year holds an off-beat picnic in his honor. Getting into the big leagues is tough for any player, but especially hard if you are half-blind. We hear the tale of one half-blind baseball pitcher who has a good shot at it this year – Believe It or Not! Other Strange and Wonderfully Weird Stories We Captured for the March 25 Episode include: a homeless man talks with us this week on Ripley Radio, the official radio show of Ripley’s Believe It or Not!, and explains how a very expensive diamond ring ended up in his possession and why he returned it, even while the devil on his shoulder was telling him to keep it; Jodi Pliszka reports on a weird medical malady known as Fregoli, a condition that causes you to see the same person, no matter who you look at; Edward Meyer, Ripley’s archivist tells us about his newest purchase, a man-eating Bengal Tiger who killed more than 40 people during its life. Not only did Ripley’s get the taxidermied tiger, but also the human jewelry found inside its stomach when it was shot during the last century; and the cast of the Broadway show, American Idiot provides us with our musical egress this week with the Green Day song, Boulevard of Broken Dreams.
Variety entertainer extraordinaire Todd Robbins drops by this week and tells us that he has eaten more than 5,000 light bulbs during his career as part of his act. It’s a learned skill and one has to be very careful, he notes. Frank DeCaro, a celebrity in his own right, shares a few favorite items from his Dead Celebrity Cookbook, including Michael Jackson’s favorite treat. The Grim Reaper Gourmet, as he calls himself, appears in the March 18 episode of Ripley Radio, the official radio broadcast partner of Ripley’s Believe It or Not!
Other Strange and Wonderfully Weird Stories We Captured for the March 18 Episode include: In her weird medical maladies segment, Jodi Pliszka tells us about periodic paralysis, a symptom that comes on quickly and goes away just as quickly; Joe Tombari and nine of his friends have been playing tag for 23 years and the game goes on! He relates a few of the more outrageous “tags” that have occurred over the years; we learn about the world’s record for the most people wearing frog masks; Ripley archivist Edward Meyer reports that one of his latest acquisitions is a 2,500 year old chunk of redwood tree; and Nashville-based Here Come the Mummies provide us with our musical egress with Aeroplane.
Lucky is the topic this week as we celebrate St. Patrick’s Day 2013 on Ripley Radio, the official broadcast station of Ripley’s Believe It or Not! Stacy Lee Goforth tells us that if you believe strongly enough, you can create your own luck and that virtually anything can be a lucky charm. Chad Lewis examines the “Luck of the Irish” and everything that goes along with it.
Other Strange and Wonderfully Weird Stories We Captured for the March 11 Episode include: A last wish of an 88-year old man was that his funeral procession drive through Burger King on the way to the cemetery for one last Whopper Junior; a high school graduation class of 1948 has plans to hold its 65th reunion – in a funeral home; was there a real St. Patrick and did he truly drive the snakes out of Ireland? We hear one theory; and the Irish rock group, The Saw Doctors, present D’ya Wanna Hear My Guitar? as this week’s musical egress.
While most of us can’t imagine doing a one-armed pushup of any kind, Darryl Learie holds a world record doing them - with all of his weight balanced on a single egg! He stops by this week and explains how he does it without making omelets. Juan Panesso tells us this week on Ripley Radio, the official broadcast program of Ripley’s Believe It or Not!, how he acquired and then sold a 19-foot long cigar – for $185,000.
Other Strange and Wonderfully Weird Stories We Captured for the March 4 Episode include: Jodi Pliszka tells the tale of a weird medical malady of a young woman whose eyes close and she can’t open them for three days at a time; we hear of some real crazy items available for purchase on the Internet, including the ability to walk on water- sort of; Joe Kasinski of the Orlando Believe It or Not! Odditorium joins us in the studio and tells us what’s new at his busy attraction; and Maroon 5 provides our musical egress this week with Daylight.
Detroit’s Deborah Ford retired from the US Post Office in February having never missed a day of work in her 44 years. She visits this week and tells us how she did it. Also this week on Ripley Radio, the official broadcast program of Ripley’s Believe It or Not!, we hear from Brian Jackson, who holds several world records – for blowing up hot water bottles. He once lifted a car with his lungs – sort of.
Other Strange and Wonderfully Weird Stories We Captured for the February 25 Episode include: Chad Lewis reports on the wild men who at one time probably lived in the woods and hills around your house; Jim Kidrick of the San Diego Air and Space Museum tells us about the new Ripley exhibit that will be featured at his facility through 2013; Ripley archivist Edward Meyer calls in from the floor of that unique exhibit in San Diego; Joe Kasinski from the Orlando Ripley’s Believe It or Not! Odditorium updates us on his new exhibits and reports on the success of World Sword Swallower’s Day last week; and the group Swedish House Mafia sings their hit, Don’t Worry Child as this week’s musical egress.
This Saturday, February 23, nearly three dozen sword swallowers will gather at 20 Ripley’s Believe It or Not! Odditoriums, worldwide, to celebrate World Sword Swallower’s Day. Dan Meyer, the world’s preeminent sword swallower, and founder of this special day, visits with us this week on Ripley Radio, the official radio program of Ripley’s Believe It or Not! Other Strange Stories We Captured for the February 18 Episode: Marc Hartzman tells us that Hans may be the smartest horse ever; Dan Diehl, an artist who “paints” with smoke describes his unique talent to us; Ripley’s new media expert, Lauren Hubbard, explains how fans of Ripley can interact with the company on the various social media platforms available; Jodi Pliszka reports on a rare, very weird medical malady; and Bruno Mars provides the musical egress this week with Locked Out of Heaven.
On this special Valentine’s episode of Ripley Radio, we take a look at the strange, unusual and non-mainstream ways to celebrate the big holiday dedicated to sweethearts. As more and more people are writing love letters, we hear from David Rees, the world’s only professional pencil sharpener, and Barbara Berg returns to explain Ring Shui, a way of predicting if a person is a romantic match based on how they wear their rings.
Additional Weird and Wacky stories on the February 11 episode of Ripley Radio include: The head of an exclusive resort tells us that more and more couples, young and old, are discovering the clothing optional way to celebrate; A look at the special Valentine Day promotions found at Ripley attractions worldwide; and Chad Lewis reports on lover’s traditions of the past.
In one of the greatest love songs ever recorded, Chris de Burgh provides our musical egress this week with Lady in Red.
Believe It or Not!, several US cities want to steal the “Icebox of the Nation” moniker from International Falls, Minn.. Chad Lewis joins us this week and tells us about the challenge from these upstarts. A person’s ashes from cremation aren’t just for urns anymore. Angela explains that all sorts of artistic uses have been created for cremains, including blown glass paper weights and vinyl records.
Other Strange Stories on the February 4 Episode of Ripley Radio: George Holscher tells us about the 300-game he bowled – from his wheelchair, becoming only the second person to ever do so; award-winning TV reporter Scott Fais reports on the very off-the-beaten-path location of a private monkey island in Florida; Huffington Post editor Buck Wolf unveils the top weird stories the popular website carried during 2012; and sideshow historian James Taylor recalls the life story of sideshow performer Johnny Eck, the legless man who Robert Ripley once called, “the most amazing man in the world.”
The Zombies auditory artifact from 1969, Time of the Season, is this week’s musical egress.
This week on Ripley Radio, we look at a couple of Legends. Sideshow historian James Taylor introduces us to Francesco Lentini, a man with three legs who spent his life entertaining the weird and strange-seeking masses. David Marsh of Marsh’s Free Museum in Washington State, tells us about his most popular exhibit – the remains of Jake the Alligator Man. Other Strange Stories We Captured for the January 28 Episode: UFO Researcher of the Year and Huffington Post journalist, Lee Speigel, lists the top UFO stories of 2012; a sheriff’s deputy tells of a drug bust his department made and you’ll be surprised at what they found guarding the stash; Scott Fais and Ripley archivist Edward Meyer talk about the incredible and mysterious Coral Castle in Homestead, Florida; and Angela reports on how one man is the proof that vodka can make you blind, but whiskey can make you see again! The Neon Trees provide our musical egress this week with their big 2012 hit, Everybody Talks.
This week on Ripley Radio we listen to James Papp, an expert on the Mayan culture as he tells us why the world didn’t end in December as predicted by so many. Also we hear from Brent Sicard, who went from being the janitor of a grocery store chain to become its part-owner and CEO – Believe It or Not!
Other Strange Stories We Captured for the January 21 Episode: Jodi Pliszka visits us and lists the top weird medical maladies she reported on in 2012; In his segment, Jackpottin’ with James Taylor, the sideshow historian tells the strange tale of Joseph Merrick, the Elephant Man; Edward Meyer, Ripley’s archivist unveils the top exhibits he acquired during 2012; and TV reporter Scott Fais tells us about a train ride that takes us into the wilderness and back, all in the name of entertainment.
Seven Day Week, this week’s musical egress is compliments of the Detroit-based band, JTX.
It was a big year for the weird and strange and this week on Ripley Radio we take a look at some of the weirdest tales of 2012. Chad Lewis reveals the top roadside attractions he visited during the year and Lee Speigel unveils the top paranormal stories he covered for Huffington Post.
Other Strange Stories We Captured for the January 14 Episode: Braxton Southwick of the Nat Geo TV show, The Preppers, tells us how to prepare for bad times; John McKissick, the 86 year old football coach who has won 600 games tells us how he did it; Emmy winning TV reporter Scott Fais picks the strangest stories he covered during the year in Florida; and Edward Meyer, Ripley’s archivist counts down the top five acquisitions he made on behalf of Ripley’s during the year.
Rayland Baxter provides our musical egress this week with Driveway Melody.
In our first show of 2013, we talk with the king of Stupid Human Tricks, Brian Pankey. He holds more than 2,000 records for doing stupid things! Gail Ruben, the doyenne of death, joins us again and talks about the brighter side of death – the unique, weird and sometimes strange funerals that follow. Other strange things discussed on the January 7 episode of Ripley Radio, the official broadcast partner of Ripley’s Believe It or Not! includes a discussion with Mort Banks who sold a gallon of BBQ Sauce on eBay for nearly $10,000. Tune in to see what kind of sauce brought in that kind of dough! We also hear from Star Donovan who has created an entirely new image of vampires – for grade school kids – in a series of books. Are some “urban legends” really true? We hear that some are much more than myths. Benjamin Gibbard provides our first musical egress of 2013 with Teardrop Window.
We don’t sing Auld Lang Syne, but we do get the year off to a pleasurable start with an unbelievably weird, bizarre and totally fun show. We hear about a Mexican Restaurant in Los Angeles where the rock group The Doors once had a recording studio and you’ll be surprised what now occupies what was once the sound booth! We also learn that Charlie Andrews is one tough dude! He is the reigning world champion jouster and he explains that it is definitely a sport in which you WILL get hurt.Additional Bizarre, Unusual and Weird Topics discussed on the December 31 episode of Ripley Radio, the official broadcast partner of Ripley’s Believe It or Not!, include: Pat Croce, the owner of St. Augustine’s Pirate and Treasure Museum tells us that his crew has discovered two ships that were part of Sir Francis Drake’s final expedition; we hear that ghosts were blamed for a stash of items stolen from a local police precinct that were found in one of the cop’s basement; a cupcake bakery in the UK nearly went out of business because they had TOO much business, thanks to a Groupon; and we are told by return intern Abby that an English historian was found with 20 female corpses in his house – all dressed up as if they were going to a party! Our last musical egress of the year is a rock version of the traditional New Year’s Eve song by the amazing Los Straitjackets. They call it Soul’d Lang Syne.
TV adventurer, author, actor and world traveler Piers Gibbon stops by Ripley Radio this week and tells us about his latest National Geographic Channel show, The Witch Doctor Will See You Now! , Jodi Pliszka explains what the “Alien Hands” syndrome is all about and provides a few very graphic bizarre examples of what can happen if you have this affliction.Also on the December 25 episode of Ripley Radio, the official broadcast partner of Ripley’s Believe It or Not!: Return Intern Abby reports that the 7 billionth human on Planet Earth was born on Halloween, a year ago in the Philippines; Chris Epting reports on a booth in Pete’s Tavern in Lower Manhattan where O. Henry sat while writing the Gift of the Magi in 1906; We hear that the Sugar Plum Fairy of St. Charles, Mo., was fired just before Christmas and learn of the “Save the Sugar Plum Fairy” groups that have sprung up in an attempt to get her coveted job back; and Edward the archivist relates how bizarre it was spending the day in Thailand, with three “unusual and unbelievable” people- the Scorpion Girl, the Centipede Boy, and the Wolf Child. We go traditional country this week for our holiday musical egress. Carlene Carter teams up with Daron Norwood for their version of the Working Elf Blues.
This week we feature a Florida woman who left $1,000 in cash on the kitchen counter only to be eaten by her dog! How she got it back may surprise you! We also discover that at least one pregnant woman craves roadkill, not ice cream. Also on the December 17 episode of we hear about the holiday activities at Ripley attractions across America. We talk with Michael Hirsch of the New York City Believe It or Not! museum who tells us about his month-long Ripley-style fun, which includes an opportunity to have a mini-Santa sit on YOUR lap! Kim Kiff, manager of the St. Augustine, Fla., Believe It or Not! museum describes her Santa’s Village and the city’s Nights of Lights and tells us that all Florida residents get into all the Ripley attractions state-wide for half-price in December. In addition: We learn of Christmas customs of far-away lands: burning goats in Sweden, holiday meals at KFC in Japan, and defecating dogs in Spain; We learn that a bakery refused to bake a birthday cake for a child – named Adolf Hitler; and we hear that on Thanksgiving morning, a live turkey fell out of his nest, crashed through a window and landed inside a restaurant – that was not serving turkey for dinner! Lady Antebellum provides our holiday musical egress this week with Baby, It’s Cold Outside.
Two weeks before Christmas 2012, Ripley Radio takes a look at the darker side of the jolly fat guy dressed in red, including a glimpse at Krampus, which legend says follows Santa around and eats little kids who have been bad. We also hear that our dearly deceased friends and relatives may be trying to reach us from the other side. Author Joe Higgins explains a few ways they may be trying to reach us. Also on the December 10 episode, Scott Douglas of Runner’s World magazine tells us about a runner who completed a full marathon wearing only store bought flip flops, and Jodi Pliszka explains why doctors implanted horns on the head of an infant boy. Musical stylist, the late Eartha Kitt, provides us with our Christmas musical egress this week with the best recording ever of Santa Baby.
Canadian sideshow performer, The Great Orbax, wanted to learn to tattoo, so he climbed aboard a wooden roller coaster and practiced - on his brother Sweet Pepper Klopek, while moving 50 mph! Hear from Orbax and Pepper on how this huge promotional stunt played out! The renown and very green Lizardman takes a break from a performance and explains what and why he does what he does.Also on the December 3 episode of Ripley Radio, we hear about a doctor who cut off a part of a woman’s skull and stored it in her stomach for several weeks and we are informed that you can learn a great deal about a person by observing on which finger they wear their rings. Our guest, Barbara Berg, calls it Ring Shui. We also learn that scientists think that by shooting paint balls at an approaching asteroid, the earth may be saved! We turn to Django Django’s Hail Bop for our musical egress this week.
Nick Kleckner was homeless and adrift the day he decided to walk from Florida to California. He not only found the West Coast, but a new direction in life as well. He tells us about his remarkable 178 day journey and how it turned his life around. Also on the November 26 episode of Ripley Radio: We follow the journey of Oliver Cromwell’s head, for 300 years after his beheading; Coach Meg from the Harvard School of Mind Control drops by; Don Ecker of the Dark Matters radio show tells us there are more UFOs up there than flying saucers; and we hear of a new Denny’s menu featuring Hobbit-themed food items.
Author and doyenne of death, Gail Ruben visits Ripley Radio this week and tells us about her quest to crash 30 funerals of total strangers in 30 days. Then she blogs about the deceased and her experiences at the funeral. Taking a whimsical approach to death and funerals is her forte.In Jackpotting with James Taylor, the sideshow historian talks about one of his most unusual friends, Percilla the Monkey Girl. Now deceased, Percilla spent decades on the circus and carnival sideshow circuit, dancing for thousands of paying customers and showing off her body – totally covered with hair.Chris Epting discusses a very unusual site in Long Beach, Calif. – A family of sea turtles living and thriving in the warm waters of a small channel next to a power plant! Angela reveals the top occupations in which the employees need to drink the most coffee to survive a day at work, Ralf explains how a baby doll saved an entire family from perishing in a house fire and Kim Kiff, manager of the Ripley’s attractions in St. Augustine, Fla., drops by and tells us that St. Augustine is a great place to spend a few days during the upcoming holiday season!
Tisha UnArmed is a video star. Her talent? She videos herself tying her shoes, making a sandwich and doing other things that most of us consider normal, everyday tasks. What makes her videos unique is that she does all these things with NO arms. Tisha tells us that she also takes requests. Chad Lewis reveals several renown Earthly “portals” that are believed to lead to heaven and/or hell.Also on the November 12 episode of Ripley Radio, the official radio show of Ripley’s Believe It or Not!, Jodi Pliszka, in her Weird Medical Maladies segment, expresses her concerns for a woman who can eat nothing but mint Tic Tacs. What does one do with an exotic pet that can’t be controlled or is not wanted anymore? Donald Shultz, of Nat Geo’s TV show, Animal Intervention, stops by and talks about several of his more unbelievable interventions. Cherrie Currie of the Runaways provides the musical egress with her rock version of the Sonny and Cher classic, I Got You Babe.
In an enlightening interview, Ripley Radio listeners learn this week how to repel the harmful curses of the fairy kingdom, when we talk with the insightful Clint Marsh about the new insightful book, “Goblinproofing One’s Chicken Coop.” Chad Lewis drops by and tells us that much of what we know about Ma Barker, the legendary gang leader of the 1930s is myth. Also on the November 5 episode we address the end of the world, as we know it. As December 21 approaches, which is being forecast as doomsday by many, author Laura Barcella joins us to discuss how pop culture has addressed 50 different apocalyptic visions. We also hear of a book written with disappearing ink and Mary Hayes from Cassadaga, Fla., the psychic capital of the world, explains how she channels and a little about the spirits on the other side who help her. When My Train Pulls In, by newcomer Gary Clark Jr., is our musical egress this week.
We’re back at the historic Hotel Cassadaga this week and learn more about the appeal and the draw of this spiritual little Florida community, known as the “Psychic Capital of the World.” We hear ghost stories and visit with famed psychic astrologer Ginny Stern. Diana Morn, the hotel’s owner, introduces us to Arthur, the community’s most famous spirit. All this on the October 29 Halloween edition of Ripley Radio, the official broadcast partner of Ripley’s Believe It or Not!Also on this week’s special show: We learn of a Werewolf Hunt in the UK in which anyone can partake; we talk with Ghost Hunter Kris Williams; we are invited to attend the largest gathering of sideshow performers in the world this weekend in Wilkes Barre, Pa.; and Chad Lewis reveals where a few wickedly cursed graveyards are located. The hokey, if not traditional Halloween song, by Bobby “Boris” Pickett, The Monster Mash, is our musical egress this week.
We broadcast the first of two special Halloween shows this year live from the “Psychic Capital of the World,” Cassadaga, Fla. From the historic Cassadaga Hotel, we learn of the history and the amazing draw that this small community has had since the late 19th century. Hotel owner Diana Morn joins us this week on Ripley Radio – the official broadcast partner of Ripley’s Believe It or Not!, as does medium and psychic Torre.Also this week: Chad Lewis reports on the very odd and unusual burial traditions of Europe, and sideshow entertainer The Great Orbax, gives us a preview of what he and his partner are planning to do at the Pacific National Exhibition in Vancouver on October 24. It has something to do with the old wooden roller coaster, a 50 foot drop, and an on-board tattoo attempt. Don’t miss it. In keeping with the spirits of Cassadaga, our musical egress this week is Spirit in the Sky, by Norman Greenbaum.
At 9 years old, Kid KJ is the world’s youngest Monster Truck Driver, but he will lose that title soon – to his 6 year old brother. Ralf talks with Kid KJ this week on Ripley Radio, the official radio show of Ripley’s Believe It or Not! Ripley favorite witch, Judika Illes tells us why Halloween is truly the Season of the Witch. Also this week: we learn that touring musician and author of Road Stories, Peter Aven, has ghosts in his barn recording studio; we hear about a man who was pronounced dead on the scene, got up and walked away; Angela informs us of some very weird restaurants; and we are told that a pair of Elvis Presley’s underwear sold at auction for $16,000! Rocker John Fogerty provides our Halloween musical egress with Wicked Old Witch.
Imagine how terrified you’d be if the rocks you picked up on the beach suddenly broke into fire a couple hours later – while they were still in your pocket! Believe it or Not!, you’ll hear that story on this week’s episode of Ripley Radio! Our newest contributor Chad Lewis reveals why Babe the Blue Ox is blue as he tells us the long-lived tale of Paul Bunyan. Also this week on Ripley Radio, the official radio show of Ripley’s Believe It or Not!, you’ll hear: about what the Ripley’s Haunted Adventures have in store for the Halloween season; a woman who makes $60 an hour as a professional snuggler; a man who has a serious medical malady that keeps him from gaining weight no matter what or how much he eats; that sometimes love can be re-ignited after divorce – 50 years later! The breakout folk group, the Lumineers, play their hit Ho Hey as this week’s musical egress.
This week on Ripley Radio, we talk with the creator of the toaster that can summon up a great image of Jesus each and every time on any slice of bread! Tom Thumb was not the smallest person to ever walk the earth, but he certainly was the most popular of the Lilliputians. Sideshow historian James Taylor and Ripley archivist Edward Meyer present two different segments on the mighty mite general and we are told that Ripley owns the suit in which Tom Thumb was married.
Robert Wadlow, the tallest man to ever walk the earth at 8 feet 11 inches tall, is featured this week in two different segments of the Ripley Radio Oddcast. The new book from Ripley’s Believe It or Not!, Download the Weird, is a revolutionary combination of printed book and downloadable videos and photos via OddScan, a new feature on the Believe It or Not! app. The publisher, Anne Marshall, tells us how it works and how reviewers are giving it very high marks.
Swami Panchadasi’s Clairvoyance and Occult Powers is a century-old book has served as the basis for modern self-help volumes through the years and contains amazing, unusual and unbelievable claims. Clint Marsh has dusted off the old book, written a new introduction to it and this week joins Ripley Radio. Philadelphia minister Kevin Benton has written “A Field Guide to Hell,” in which he claims to have gone to hell and back – literally. Intern Abby tells the tale of fish falling from the heavens in Honduras, Edward reveals facts about the world’s first and only underwater post office, we learn that the famous Chilean flag that was underground with the trapped miners is now in the Ripley archives
Believe It or Not! the American West had its share of outlaw women, many of whom were killers and rustlers – and some actually ended up on the short end of a long rope as a result. Author Michael Rutter has documented these bad girls in his Bedside Book of Bad Girls, and shares several amazing and shocking stories about a few of them. Steampunk is often defined as Victorian style with an industrial revolution steel feel to it combined with a touch of Jules Verne fantasy – all mixed together with a 21st century punk attitude. Sandra Martin, the founder of the Oklahoma Steampunk Expo is on hand to tell us all about this emerging genre and about her event, set for April 15-17 in Oklahoma City. Also this week, Chris Epting reports about a plethora of fallen birds, all with the exact same wing injury, Tim plays Spot the Not! with facts culled from the Ripley’s Believe It or Not! Baseball Oddities book, Edward examines the Steampunk exhibits in the Ripley archives, and we find out who the fittest man in the world is and where he lives
Forty years ago this fall, Walt Disney World opened near Orlando, Florida, and the state, city and the world has not been the same since. Disneyphile Chad Emerson has compiled a book of essays from Disney aficionados around the world to celebrate the four decades of the Mouse House and he shares with us some of the more unusual and amazing of the stories. Intern Abby tells us about a Knife Throwing Breast Surgeon, Sideshow impresario Ward Hall tells Tim that there is still validity in exhibiting freaks for entertainment, author Dan Schlossberg covers some of the strange things we’re likely to experience during the 2011 Major League Baseball Season, and Buck Wolf reveals what a lot of families are doing with the ashes of their recently departed. We hear further strange stories from Ripley’s Believe It or Not! book on Baseball Oddities, and while no one in the ensemble has received their invitation to the royal wedding yet, Edward tells us that fruitcakes can play an important part in British wedding customs
Jody Pliszka explains what the Chinese Year of the Rabbit means to all of us and what we should expect if we were born under one of the five signs of the rabbit. Well-known TV writer and author David Bickell has an unusual and somewhat kooky book and website called Creepiosity. He talks with us about what he finds really creepy in this already strange world, and sideshow veteran and entrepreneur Ward Hall explains why he feels that freaks are still a viable entertainment option on today’s carnival midway. We meet Father John, the Carny Priest who travels across America tending to his flock of itinerant show people, and a man who has run 365 full marathons in 365 days
“Bats Sing, Mice Giggle” is the name of the new book by Dr. Karen Shanor, a researcher who reveals some amazing and surprising facts about the way animals communicate. UFO Phil, perhaps one of the most unusual and fun guests ever on Ripley Radio unveils his plan to build a huge pyramid on the top of Pike’s Peak in Colorado so the aliens will have a place to land. He also sings for us and very secretively lists ways for us to tell the good aliens from the bad. Intern Abby provides a tale of a dog being elected as the mayor of a small Kentucky town; we hear about parrots that are trained to prevent crime; and we learn that Ripley’s has an amazing collection of weird, strange (and stuffed) animals in its vast archives.
Gail Rubin’s slightly irreverent but quite practical look at death and funerals led her to be a part of this year’s Frozen Dead Guy Festival where she unveiled her new game, the NewlyDead Game. This week she talks with us about how to plan for your own funeral in a fun way. We also talk about the Catholic Church and witches, the Doomsday Seed Bank in Norway, Fantasy Coffins, and more
There are still mysteries and controversy surrounding what many feel is the day the music died, Feb.3, 1959, when Buddy Holly, the Big Bopper and Richie Valens died in a plane crash. This week on the official radio station for Ripley’s Believe It or Not!, we talk with Gary Moore, author of the book Hey Buddy and he unveils what has not been told to us through the years.
Also this week, we get to hear about an Elvis sighting, our archivist Edward Meyer tells us about a lock of Elvis’ hair we have in our collection, and Tim talks with CBS News coorespondent Bill Geist
SHOW 113 Two new models of flying cars have been put on the market, a Michigan Pizza Shop turned into a Classical Italian Art Museum is doing well, and we take a look at Presidential Pets that have lived in the U.S. White House through the years
Also this week we learn: How the US Government is preparing for a Zombie Apocalypse and what YOU can do to prepare; About the 10 foot by 10 foot jelly bean portraits just purchased by Ripley’s Believe It or Not!; That only 10 companies are responsible for most of the products you buy; and our musical egress is Surfin’ Safari, the 1962 summertime hit by the Beach Boys.
An Amphicar Festival in Ohio, a look back at Wild West Shows, cows disrupting a college beer party, and disgusting food facts about our everyday food choices.
Also this week, you’ll hear about: hybrid designer animals; a horse-carriage hijacking where the horse was the hero; an update on the Bearded Lady’s reunion with her long-lost son; and for our musical egress we go back to 1983 with Modern English and their hit, I Melt With You.
Is it legal to hunt for Big Foot in Texas? New information on the famous Rubber Skin Girl, a look at the history of Wax Museums and a chat with Erin Ryder, star of the new TV series Chasing UFOs.
Also this week, you’ll hear about: the dad who promised a year’s supply of beer to whomever would give his son a job; a new radio station focused on Doomsday; new exhibits at Ripley’s Believe It or Not! Odditoriums worldwide called Ghost in the Machine; and important information needed to survive the current planetary condition – the Mercury Retrograde!
A Summer Sideshow, a Bacon Coffin, a Space and Bicycle Museum, a primer on old time Medicine Shows and a psychic pig!
The traditional sideshow acts are back at Quassy Amusement Park this July 9-22 as the Ripley’s Believe It or Not! Summer Sideshow is presented daily at the Middlebury, Conn. family funpark. The amazing Todd Robbins will head up the acts in this historic look back at the golden years of the sideshow. It’s a free show at the free-admission park and you’ll hear all about it this week on Ripley Radio.
One of the most eclectic museums you’ll ever find is the Deke Slayton Memorial Space and Bicycle Museum in Sparta, Wisconsin. From sprockets to rockets, this great little exposition features the evolution of transportation while honoring its home-town hero, one of America’s first astronauts. We talk with the museum’s Alli Karrell and she tells us about the museum and a couple fun events she will be holding this month.
It truly is a scary thought. Believe It or Not!, the woman who became notoriously known as the Tanning Mom is now an action figure! A toy and doll company in Connecticut is now selling the figure for $29.95. And what’s more, the company president tells Ralf, that his company can customize an action figure that looks like you! Tune in to this week’s Ripley Radio Oddcast for this truly bizarre story.
Power to the People! is more than an anthem. Floor tiles are being installed In London, in time for the Olympics that can generate electricity when people step on them! Angela reports on this unbelievable new and efficient way to create energy!
The triathlon, where contestants swim, bike and run for various lengths are quite common. What’s uncommon is to have an athlete juggle balls during all three events. Believe It or Not!, that’s what Joe Salter did and Ralf caught up with him afterward for a fun chat.
P.T. Barnum made the Dime Museum of the late 1800s a popular attraction to visit for the entire family. These storefront “museums” displayed wild and weird specimens, plus bizarre and strange human acts. As they were fading in popularity in the early 1930s, Robert Ripley patterned his very first Odditorium after these early expositions and took the presentation up several notches. Sideshow historian James Taylor provides the fascinating evolution of the genre in which Ripley still excels today!
Episode 107 - Captain Steamers, a pirate-themed oyster bar in Florida was being robbed when an employee grabbed the closest weapon he could find – a piece of the theming decoration – and foiled the bad guy’s efforts. What did he use?
Through the decades of space travel, US Astronauts have not only claimed to see odd things flying by outside their space capsule, but have brought back photographic proof of those objects. NASA immediately “lost” the data in their bureaucracy and instructed the astronauts that they hadn’t seen a thing. Ripley Radio’s own UFO and Paranormal investigator, Lee Speigel, reports on this cover-up and hints at what’s really happening out there.
Imagine every time you hear a specific song, whether in the car, at home or on the beach, you immediately go into a seizure. It’s a problem suffered by those afflicted with a medical malady commonly known as Music Induced Syndrome. It’s rare and it’s UNBELIEVABLE! Jodi Pliszka stops by and tells us all about it.
There are people who have recently seen live dinosaurs in Africa! Lee Speigel tells us a fascinating story about an upcoming expedition that will trek into the deep and dark interior areas of the country to see if they also can spot and of course, chronicle the big guys.
Where is the worst place for a cow to show up after escaping from its farm? This week on Ripley Radio Oddcast, we discover the answer to that question. It’s a fun, feel-good animal story that gives an all-new meaning to the food chain, AND, it’s a perfect Ripley story because it is totally UNBELIEVABLE!
Ripley’s paranormal and UFO correspondent, Lee Speigel, joins us and proves that what goes on in Las Vegas never really stays there! On a recent trip during dinner, he missed a major UFO sighting over the city and didn’t hear about it for two weeks. When he did, he checked the videos he had shot that evening and discovered an amazing array of various orbs flying over his hotel. He shares that experience with us.
Believe It or Not, the rock group Mini-Kiss, a group of small guys in full Kiss Rock and Roll makeup, really does exist as a touring band AND they are heading to Ripley’s Believe It or Not! St. Augustine for a Memorial Day Weekend show! This week, Mini-Gene Simmons visits the Ripley Oddcast and explains their show and their excitement in working with the “real” Kiss in a Super Bowl Pepsi commercial a few years back.
When it comes to putting ingredients on pizza, just about everything has been tried over the years, so what does a pizza chain do now to create excitement and new tastes for their product? The answer is simple – they turn to the crust, not the toppings. Angela checks in this week with a report on what crusty concoctions are appearing on pizzas world-wide – including Pizza Hut’s new hot dog stuffed pizza.
This week, we interview the owner, but we don’t necessarily endorse his concept, of a restaurant in Las Vegas that has a huge sign at the front door warning: “Caution, This establishment is bad for your health.” There have been several real heart attacks at The Heart Attack Grill, whose slogan reads “High Calorie, High Fun, Good Tasting Food.” Samples from the menu include Flat Line Fries and the Triple By-Pass Burger.
Imagine living far from a Mexican food restaurant and you yearn for a taco. What do you do? You get online, order a taco and before long, a flying robotic drone lands on your front lawn, you go out and unload your taco and the drone takes off to conduct yet another palate saving mission. The Taco-Copter is a reality in San Francisco, and there is talk of a Lobster-Copter in New England. But wait – the Federal Aviation Administration has put a temporary kibosh on the idea. Angela gives us the latest details on this innovative food delivery system.
Less than 200 people have gone below the sea to visit the Titanic in the 100 years since it sank. Fran Capo, a regular Ripley Radio Oddcast contributor is one of them. This week, she relates how she got to be one of the lucky ones, the world record she set while submerged more than two miles below the surface, and she candidly tells us what her greatest fear during the trip was. You’ll be surprised as to what it was!
May is the start of the summer in most regions of the Northern Hemisphere and that means the start of a long string of unusual and bizarre fairs, festivals and events. If weird is in your travel plans for 2012, make sure you listen as our ensemble talks about everything from the Garlic Festival and the Monkey Buffett Festival to the Mike the Headless Chicken Festival and the Redneck Games. We also cover the Twins Festival and as many of the food throwing festivals we could find!
Lee Speigel, a regular contributor to Ripley Radio – An On-Demand Oddcast and a Huffington Post writer, not only gave a popular presentation to the International UFO Congress last month, but he was also awarded the UFO Researcher of the Year. This week, he talks about the award and about the importance of the UFO Congress.
Swami Yomahmi, the self-proclaimed “Original Sideshow Geek,” has one of the most original sideshow acts in the business today – combining traditional acts with a heavy dose of nerdiness and humor! He drops by this week and discusses his act, why he does what he does, and maybe most importantly, what his mother thinks of his line of work!
This week marks the 100th episode of Ripley Radio – An On-Demand Oddcast and during the show we hear from Ripley’s President Jim Pattison Jr. on how the show is helping keep Robert Ripley’s legacy alive and current, and we also hear from many of our guests who we featured during the first 100 shows!
We talk with Ray Johnson, the 46-year mayor of Campo, Colo., who is thought to be the most heavily tattooed mayor in the US. Ralf questions him on how his constituency feels about all the ink. You’ll be surprised at his response.
Believe It or Not! creator Robert Ripley has been inducted into the Sideshow Hall of Fame, at Coney Island USA! Ninety-four years after he drew his first Believe It or Not! cartoon and 79 years after he opened his first Odditorium at the Chicago World’s Fair, Ripley officially joins the esteemed lineup of history’s greatest showmen! Tim was there and he reports on how it all went down!
An exhibit featuring the secretive Area 51 has just opened at the National Atomic Testing Museum in Las Vegas. Ripley’s UFO expert Lee Speigel tells us the the irony that the museum, part of the federally funded Smithsonian Museum group, would feature something that the Federal Government itself has claimed doesn’t exist, wasn’t lost on him. Otherwise, it’s a well done, expansive and educational exhibit, he notes.
Ripley Radio’s tribute to Easter this week features Ripley-style advice on how one should eat a chocolate bunny and author Anne Perciado Rich visits to explain how bunnies and colored eggs became a part of the most important holiday in the Christian religion.
Have you ever been in a noisy restaurant or a loud rock concert and have been unable to hear your cell phone or even feel it vibrating? Now, our friends at Nokia are creating the technology that will cause a special tattoo on your body to vibrate when a call or email comes in.
Since its beginning, the Girl to Gorilla illusion has been a hit on circus and carnival midways around the world. Using mirrors, it appears the beautiful girl is slowly turning into a big hairy ape and as she does, the mesmerized crowds stood there silently until something happens that sends them all screaming out of the tent! Sideshow historian James Taylor visits Ripley Radio this week and tells us the reason behind that mass exodus at practically every show.
As the tax deadlines approach in the US, we learn that many of the rich and famous owe incredible amounts of back taxes to the US Government. You’ll be amazed to find out what film star still owes nearly $150 million in back taxes!
A nun who gives messages and pigs who serve as ball boys are just a few of the weird and wonderful promotions that baseball club owner and promoter Mike Veeck has propagated over the years. The King of Baseball Promotion drops by Ripley Radio this week and tells us what unusual activities he has planned for his ballparks in 2012.
An incredible tale of killing, deception and avoidance of the law is the story behind Fran Capo’s segment about the Boogeyman of Westfield. She wrote about him in her book Myths and Mysteries of New Jersey, and she recounts the amazingly grisly story to our listeners this week.
Bello Nock is perhaps the most recognizable circus performer ever. In creating his own performance niche as a comic daredevil, he shows as much skill as a daredevil as he does as a clown. His foot tall orange hair helps identify him in either role. Tim caught up with Nock for a quick interview prior to the Circus Sarasota presentation of Bello Mania.
Duff Beer, the drink of choice of the fictional Homer Simpson, was a fictional drink itself until recently. It is now being brewed as a German Pilsner, but only available in the UK. Angela explains why it has taken so long for a brew named Duff to make it to the marketplace.
David Schuler likes good pizza, so he drives nearly 1,500 miles and across 16 states, from Mississippi to Massachusetts, to get the perfect pizza pie. And he stocks up once he gets there. Last time, he went home with 150 of those tomato-soaked ovals of greatness in his backseat. He visits with us this week on Ripley Radio – An On-Demand Oddcast and tells us about his favorite pizza restaurant.
Susan Hyatt says the only difference between lucky and unlucky people is their thoughts. That said, the author of “Create Your Own Luck: 7 Steps to Get Your Lucky On” stops by this week and describes how we all can learn to be lucky!
This year contains the most Friday the 13th occurrences possible in one calendar year – three. And to make things even more daunting for those with Triskaidekaphobia (fear of the number 13) is that they are exactly 13 weeks apart! This week on the Ripley Radio Worldwide Oddcast, we examine the number and give everyone a little bit more to worry about, such as the fact that dying in a car crash is 64% greater on Friday the 13th!
The New Jersey Devil, not the Hockey Team, is legendary in the folklore of New Jersey, and this week the author of Myths and Mysteries of New Jersey, Fran Capo, drops by and traces the history of this monster and provides some credibility to those who claim they have seen it.
It’s a new year and that means there are new Doomsdays predicted that we all must prepare for. Tim Ralston is our guest on Ripley Radio Oddcast this week. He’s a Prepper, one who prepares extensively for Doomsday by stocking up on food, water, batteries, and maybe most important – knowledge. As part of the team on the new National Geographic TV show Doomsdayers 2012, he shares with us what really can happen “out there” and how to prepare for it.
Throughout ages, humans have been born with extra body parts, including arms, legs, fingers, and in some cases another human being! Marc Hartzman joins us this week to tell us about very rare example of a man born with an extra mouth – Otto Tolpefer. He was a featured attraction on sideshows in the 1880s in the New York area.
It’s President’s Week here at Ripley Radio – An On-Demand Oddcast, as we present two amazing and unusual stories you won’t find anywhere else. We hear that President Andrew Jackson may be the biggest party animal the White House has ever seen! Author and presidential historian Jacopo della Quercia visits and explains what Jackson’s big and boisterous Cheese Party was all about!
We learn from Ian Randall Strock that the fertility of the US Commander in Chief tells us a great deal about how we should judge the success of a president. His research is expansive and he tells us everything you ever wanted to know about fertility, kids, grandkids and siblings in the White House. Check out Ian’s latest presidential book project!
Believe It or Not! David and Lauren Blair of Nashville, Tenn., have married each other 101 times! The couple joins Ripley Radio this week to discuss their love for each other and share some of the weirder vow exchanges the two have made: ranging from several at Hard Rock Cafes to the time Elvis married them in Las Vegas!
Dan Meyer, president of the Sword Swallowers Assoc. International, stops by to talk about the upcoming World Sword Swallowers Day on Feb. 25, to be held at Ripley’s Believe It or Not! odditoriums around the world. He notes that this year’s event will be the largest ever, with more than 30 sword swallowers “dropping solid steel” at 10 different Ripley’s locations.