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PODCAST

Weird Crap in Australia

The Modern Meltdown

Welcome to "Weird Crap in Australia," a podcast hosted by Holly and Matthew, a husband and wife team with a passion for all things strange and unusual in the land down under.Each episode, Holly, a trained historian, and Matthew, a pop-culture enthusiast, dive into the weird and wacky aspects of Australian history and society. From the colonial era to the present day, they explore topics such as aliens, monsters, ghosts, and true crime, uncovering the stories and legends that have fascinated

history

All Episodes

53:56

Episode 358 - The Melbourne Gangland Wars 4 - Carl...

Weird Crap in Australia ·

2025/04/14

Carl Williams rose from small-time drug dealer to one of the most powerful—and dangerous—figures in Melbourne’s gangland wars. Known for his smiling, seemingly unbothered public appearances, Williams was anything but harmless. He orchestrated a bloody campaign that left multiple rivals dead, including members of the Moran family, as he sought to dominate Melbourne’s criminal underworld in the early 2000s.Join Holly & Matthew as they explore the life and legacy of Carl Williams, the man who

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53:57

Episode 355 - The Melbourne Gangland Wars 3 - Jason...

Weird Crap in Australia ·

2025/03/24

Jason Moran was a central figure in Melbourne’s gangland war, born into one of the city’s most notorious crime families. Known for his involvement in drug trafficking and violent underworld disputes, Moran’s life was marked by power plays and deadly rivalries. His assassination in 2003—gunned down in front of children at a football clinic—sent shockwaves through Australia and intensified a bloody underworld feud that had already claimed many lives.Join Holly & Matthew as they explore the violent

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54:24

Episode 353 - The Melbourne Gangland Wars 2 - The...

Weird Crap in Australia ·

2025/03/10

During Melbourne’s infamous gangland wars, one criminal organisation loomed large—the Carlton Crew. Made up of powerful underworld figures, the group controlled illegal gambling, drug trafficking, and extortion throughout the city. Their influence and wealth made them targets, and as tensions escalated with rival factions, the streets of Melbourne became a battleground. Betrayals, assassinations, and police crackdowns followed, marking one of Australia's most violent crime sagas.Join Holly &

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45:31

Episode 352 - The Melbourne Gangland Wars 1 - The...

Weird Crap in Australia ·

2025/03/03

The Melbourne gangland war was a brutal chapter in Australia’s criminal history, and the Kane brothers—Brian and Leslie—were right at its core. Known for their violent reputations and deep ties to organised crime, the Kane brothers became infamous figures in Melbourne’s underworld. Their brutal feuds, particularly with the Moran family and other crime syndicates, escalated into bloody street wars, leading to assassinations, betrayals, and an era of chaos that gripped the city.Join Holly &

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46:41

Episode 348 - The Connell Murders Part 1 (1978-1979)

Weird Crap in Australia ·

2025/02/03

A mother and her two young children vanished from their home in Baulkham Hills, New South Wales, in August 1978. Their disappearance quickly turned into a horrifying crime that shocked the nation. The family had been abducted, taken on a terrifying journey north before meeting a brutal and senseless end. What followed was a desperate manhunt, a tense standoff, and a case that remains one of Australia's most chilling acts of violence.Join Holly & Matthew as they explore the tragic murders of

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43:25

Episode 340 - The Thallium Craze of the 1950s Part 4

Weird Crap in Australia ·

2024/12/09

In the 1950s, Australia was gripped by a bizarre and terrifying trend of thallium poisoning, one of the most sinister and mysterious poisoning cases in Australian history. Thallium, a highly toxic metal, was used in a range of household items, including rat poisons and insecticides, and became the weapon of choice for a number of perpetrators. The poison’s ability to cause severe and often fatal damage to the nervous system made it incredibly difficult to detect, and as such, it led to a series of

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40:43

Episode 334 - The West Gate Bridge Collapse (1970)...

Weird Crap in Australia ·

2024/10/28

At 11:50 a.m. on October 15, a 2,000-ton section of the bridge buckled and fell into the Yarra River, along with the workers on site. It remains one of Australia’s worst industrial accidents, leaving a profound impact on construction safety standards nationwide.The collapse was caused by a combination of design flaws and construction errors, leading to a Royal Commission investigation. The tragedy transformed workplace safety practices, particularly in high-risk industries, and led to stricter

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45:06

Episode 333 - The West Gate Bridge Collapse (1970)...

Weird Crap in Australia ·

2024/10/21

At 11:50 a.m. on October 15, a 2,000-ton section of the bridge buckled and fell into the Yarra River, along with the workers on site. It remains one of Australia’s worst industrial accidents, leaving a profound impact on construction safety standards nationwide.The collapse was caused by a combination of design flaws and construction errors, leading to a Royal Commission investigation. The tragedy transformed workplace safety practices, particularly in high-risk industries, and led to stricter

en

67:40

Episode 332 - The May 8 Moratoriums Part 2 (1962-1975)

Weird Crap in Australia ·

2024/10/14

The May 8 protests, part of the Moratorium to End the Vietnam War movement, saw hundreds of thousands of Australians take to the streets. These demonstrations were some of the largest anti-war protests in the country’s history, and they spanned across Melbourne, Sydney, and other major cities. The protests were inspired by similar movements in the United States, with Australians calling for the withdrawal of Australian troops from Vietnam and an end to conscription.The Vietnam War divided Australian

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50:35

Episode 331 - The May 8 Moratoriums Part 1 (1962-1975)

Weird Crap in Australia ·

2024/10/07

The May 8 protests, part of the Moratorium to End the Vietnam War movement, saw hundreds of thousands of Australians take to the streets. These demonstrations were some of the largest anti-war protests in the country’s history, and they spanned across Melbourne, Sydney, and other major cities. The protests were inspired by similar movements in the United States, with Australians calling for the withdrawal of Australian troops from Vietnam and an end to conscription.The Vietnam War divided Australian

en

54:25

Episode 326 - The Spiny Anteater

Weird Crap in Australia ·

2024/09/02

Echidnas are one of the most distinctive mammals on the planet, belonging to the rare group of monotremes, which also includes the platypus. These spiny creatures are equipped with a long, sticky tongue that they use to capture ants and termites, their primary food sources. Despite their spiky appearance, echidnas are shy and solitary animals, often found burrowing into the ground to escape predators or extreme weather conditions.Join Matthew & Holly as they explore the biology, behavior, and

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50:24

Episode 320 - The History of the AFL (1859-Present)...

Weird Crap in Australia ·

2024/07/22

The history of the Australian Football League (AFL) is rich and multifaceted, beginning in the mid-19th century. Australian Rules Football was officially codified in Melbourne in 1859, with the establishment of the Melbourne Football Club. The Victorian Football League (VFL), which would later become the AFL, was founded in 1896. The league expanded nationally in the 1980s and 1990s, evolving into the AFL in 1990.Today, the AFL is the premier professional Australian Rules Football competition,

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60:47

Episode 319 - The Poltergeist of Humpty Doo (1998)

Weird Crap in Australia ·

2024/07/15

In 1998, a home in Humpty Doo, NT, became the site of intense paranormal activity. Objects flew through the air, gravel and shells rained from the ceiling, and Scrabble tiles spelled eerie messages.Priests, journalists, and police witnessed the chaos, which the residents linked to a deceased friend named 'Troy'. Despite multiple exorcism attempts, the poltergeist's violent behavior persisted until the tenants fled.Join Holly & Matthew as they examine the Humpty Doo Poltergeist, Australia's most

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47:02

Episode 317 - The Pilbara Pastoral Workers Strike...

Weird Crap in Australia ·

2024/07/01

In 1946, on the back of decades and generations of racist government and pastoralist policy 800 First Nations people walked off the stations they'd been assigned in the Pilbara Region, risking prosecution and assault by the law-keepers.Three years later, the strike broke, but only through underhanded tactics by the government and farmers put out by the strike. This was a failed strike in terms of their £1 per week demands, but in terms of scaring the Western Australian government and gathering

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48:10

Episode 312 - L'Onorata Societa Part 4: The...

Weird Crap in Australia ·

2024/05/27

In 1977, Griffith-based anti-drug campaigner Don Mackay disappeared, and despite strong suspicions of mafia involvement, his body was never found. The case remains unresolved, an intriguing mystery that continues to haunt and captivate those fascinated by the dark underworld of organized crime.Will he ever be found? That's something only the fishes can answer. Join Holly & Matthew as they close out Year 6 with a close look at the case, the suspects, and the trade.Sources used: Donald Bruce (Don)

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42:19

Episode 311 - L'Onorata Societa Part 3 - The Victoria...

Weird Crap in Australia ·

2024/05/20

When the Pope and the Toad died 2 months apart in 1963/64, chaos overtook the Melbourne arm of the Honorable Society. Men were shot in the streets, in their driveways, and in their beds as the search for the new heads of power came to a close.Join Holly & Matthew as they look into the series of shotgun killings known as the Victoria Market Murders, and their impact on the peace of the city.Sources used: £5,000 Reward For Murder Evidence | The Canberra Times | 18 Jan 1964 | Page 4 |

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50:32

Episode 310 - L'Onorata Societa Part 2 - The Black...

Weird Crap in Australia ·

2024/05/13

The Black Hand Gang's reign of terror from 1929 to 1938 left a chilling imprint on Australia. From Jean Morris's tragic murder to a series of mysterious deaths in Ingham, their ruthless tactics instilled fear across communities. Despite law enforcement's efforts, their legacy endures as a reminder of organized crime's dark underbelly.As whispers of their deeds echo through history, the tale of the Black Hand Gang serves as a cautionary reminder of the lengths to which criminal organizations will go

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52:59

Episode 309 - L'Onorata Societa Part 1: The Murder of...

Weird Crap in Australia ·

2024/05/06

Jean Morris's murder in 1932 remains a haunting enigma with a simple answer. Found stabbed 43 times in her home, suspicions fell on her Italian associates Joe Maganetti and Michael Gudas.The brutality suggested the involvement of foreign criminal elements, possibly by the notorious Black Hand. Italian national Vincenzo Dagostino emerged as a suspect, allegedly ordering her death for rejecting his advances and knowing too much about Mafia activities. As the investigation intensified, the shadows of

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65:32

Episode 308 - The Ferals (1994-1995)

Weird Crap in Australia ·

2024/04/29

"Ferals" was an Australian children's TV gem that aired on ABC from 1994 to 1995. In a zany share-house setting, puppet pals like Rattus P. Rattus and Mixy wreaked havoc, challenging their human landlord, Joe, at every turn. With uproarious antics and a rebellious spirit, this cult classic delivered laughs and life lessons in equal measure, captivating young audiences Down Under with its unforgettable characters and offbeat charm.Join Holly & Matthew as they wander down Nostalgia Avenue again,

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59:12

Episode 307 - The Cowra Breakout (1944) Part 3

Weird Crap in Australia ·

2024/04/22

On August 5, 1944, the Cowra breakout marked a significant event in Australian military history. Over 1,100 Japanese prisoners of war attempted to escape from the prisoner of war camp in Cowra, New South Wales, resulting in the largest prison break in Australian history. The breakout led to a violent confrontation between the prisoners and Australian guards, resulting in the deaths of 231 Japanese prisoners and four Australian soldiers, with many more wounded. The incident highlighted the challenges

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347 results

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