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PODCAST

The Absurd

Welcome friends to The Absurd. A podcast about things absurd. News, histories, mysteries, and strange goings-on. Our stories are freaky, funny, and sometimes frightening. So sit back, get comfy, and get ready for The Absurd.

society & culture

All Episodes

42:08

Running On Lego, Lawn Chair Larry, Call Me Bro & Butt...

The Absurd ·

2025/01/29

A woman in New Zealand set the world record for running on Lego bricks in bare feet. Holy ouch! Next we’ll head back to 1982 and meet Larry, who launched himself almost 5,000 metres into the sky while in a lawn chair. Mel will then take us to China where we will meet a man who spent over $500,000 paying a woman to call him “bro”. Lastly, Rod will tell us a strange case about a woman who left a sex toy inserted in her body while getting an MRI with horrible results.

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39:42

Real Groundhog Day, Career Turnover, There’s Waldo &...

The Absurd ·

2025/01/15

Our first story is a fascinating look at a 16 year old girl who received a severe concussion and TBI (traumatic brain injury) which resulted in her memory completely resetting every single day. But things got even worse. Next we’ll learn about a teacher who tried to cheer up a young student by … upending things. Then we have a happy story from right here in town about an amazing local Lassie. Lastly, Mel will take us to Nova Scotia about a woman working as a dog-sitter who did some questionable

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46:46

Dexter (not that one), So You Think You’re Dead,...

The Absurd ·

2025/01/08

Timothy Dexter, born in 1747, and businessman extraordinaire, was quite a dude who showed everyone just what he was made of. He was not to be underestimated as many would learn. Next we’ll look at a very strange mental condition called Cotard’s Syndrome in which the sufferer actually believes themselves to be dead. Then Mel will take us just down the road to Niagara Falls where we’ll learn about the local haunting known as the Screaming Tunnel. Lastly, Rod will regale us with another potpourri of

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52:40

Penis Poppers, Old World Christmas Traditions, That...

The Absurd ·

2024/12/25

Christmas is a time of giving, but some men get an unpleasant surprise when they give a little too hard. This is a cautionary tale, fellas. Next, Mel will tell us about some Christmas traditions from some other cultures. Then we’ll meet a couple who have setup a GoFundMe to buy the rights to a much hated Christmas song so they can remove it from existence. Lastly, we’ll look at some of the most popular Christmas toys that people lost their nog over.

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49:13

HoJo Mojo, These Are Your Eyes On Drugs, DNA WTF, Dr...

The Absurd ·

2024/12/18

A very brief bit of coolness about Howard Johnson’s. Mel will then tell us a sad, cautionary tale about a young woman who committed a horrific case of self-harm while using crystal meth. Rod will then tell us about a bizarre turn of events when a young woman bought a DNA ancestry kit. She never could have imagined what it would show. Mel will then tell us about Dr Robert Liston, a 19th century surgeon who held the record for the fastest amputations in medical history, and often at a price. Lastly,

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50:37

Window To The Soul, Girl In The Basement, DIY...

The Absurd ·

2024/12/11

In what is probably a mix of ego and stupidity, we will learn of a Toronto corporate lawyer who got his cheque cashed. Mel will then tell us a very disturbing story out of Austria. Seriously, if you’re especially sensitive to stories of abuse, this might not be a story for you (start 13:25, end 29:00). Next, financial hardships have pushed a lot of people into taking extreme actions to address their problems, but this Filipino man should have chosen a different approach. Then we’re down in Florida

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51:50

Rat-A-Chewy, St Olga Don’t Play, The Dog With Two...

The Absurd ·

2024/12/04

Our first story is rather disgusting. So if you’re eating, you might want to finish up before listening. That’s all we’re saying about that one. Mel will then take us back to 10th century Ukraine to meet Olga who shows that vengeance and kickin’ ass are by no means gender specific. Not that any sensible person could think otherwise. Then we’ll nip next door to Russia to learn about some fascinating and bizarre transplants made by a scientist who could rightly be called mad. Lastly, we’ll go to the

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37:57

RR 411, Million Dollar Banana, Absurd Facts, Rocket...

The Absurd ·

2024/11/27

This is our first ever recording on location, and we were at Rural Roots Brewing Company in Elmira, ON. Cannot recommend it enough! Great beer, great staff, and great wings too. We open on a chat with owner and proprietor Roger Lichti. Mel than tells us about someone with entirely too much money who went bananas for a banana. Next, Rod amazes and confounds us with some absurd facts. Then we’re off to Florida where an idiotic stunt involving fireworks inside a car may have ended a man’s manhood. Ever

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51:32

Big Bada Boom, Bell Island Booms, Bearly Believable &...

The Absurd ·

2024/11/20

The Tsar Bomba, the most powerful nuclear weapon ever designed and tested, and the largest human-made explosion. It’ll blow your mind! Next we’re off to Mel’s home province to learn about a series of mysterious and as yet unexplained loud booms reported in 1978. We will then meet four people whose attempts to commit insurance fraud could best be described as grizzly. Lastly we will learn about a burgeoning population of hippopotami in Colombia. Colombia? That’s right, you heard me. Colombia.

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48:02

Flight Number Two, How Do You Like Your Eggs? My...

The Absurd ·

2024/11/13

Anyone who has flown knows that it is not an overly comfortable experience. Cramped seats, screaming kids, mediocre food. But here’s one thing I hope none of us will ever have to experience. We will next meet a man who while under the influence of GHB decided it would be best to insert 15 hard boiled eggs into his rectum. What an oeuf! We rely on doctors to dispense healing treatment as spelled out in the Hippcratic oath. It is perhaps the greatest of betrayals for a doctor to use his or her

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43:45

THC Pizza, Kentucky Fried WTF, Village Of The Dolls,...

The Absurd ·

2024/11/06

You like pizza? Of course. Who doesn’t? Are you a user of cannabis? If so, you might want to head to Stoughton, Wisconsin where a pizzeria mistakenly added THC oil to their pizza dough. Next, Mel takes us down to Kentucky where police make a truly grizzly discovery. Next, we’ll head to a village in Japan where the population has declined so much that residents have made life sized dolls in an attempt to make the place less lonely. Lastly, imagine moving into a new house and finding the previous

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55:37

Mel's Monster Mash, Cannibal Cafeteria, Do You Know...

The Absurd ·

2024/10/30

Hey everyone. This is the second of our Hallowe’en focused episodes, and by focused we mean scarier and darker. First, Mel will tell us about various different monsters we associate with Hallowe’en. Next, Rod will tell us about a cannibal restaurant in South Africa. Grab your plates! We will then look at the strange sightings of the “Mothman” which has been associated with the collapse of a bridge in West Virginia that killed 46 people in 1967. Lastly, if you’re old enough to remember the game show

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56:29

What’s In The Ceiling, Randonautica & Live Organ...

The Absurd ·

2024/10/23

Welcome to our first Hallowe’en episode, where the stories are a little more macabre and dark. First we’re off to South Africa where two patients incapable of walking disappeared shortly after their surgeries. Where they were found defies explanation. Then Mel will tell us about a very strange and potentially terrifying type of geocaching. In our final story, we look at a case of organ donation, of which we are both strong supporters. However, we, along with most people I suspect (hope), believe

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44:49

Rare Bear, My Parents Can’t Find Out, Helpful Burglar...

The Absurd ·

2024/10/16

Anyone who cooks knows that meat must be brought to a certain temperature to kill any parasites that may naturally exist in that meat. In case you’re thinking of cooking up a hunk of bear meat, you might want to listen to this first. Next, Mel will tell us about a disturbing case of a woman who went to great lengths to hide her gambling debts. Then Rod will tell us a fun tale about a burglar who took a different approach to his break and enters. Lastly, we’ll see that your robot vacuum can be made

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46:30

Mushroom Mayhem, Dollar Tree Pee Candle, Retention...

The Absurd ·

2024/10/09

Psilocybin is a compound found in “magic mushrooms” which are often used recreationally as a harmless distraction. It is also the subject of much clinical study to determine if it has application to treat a myriad of mental health issues. In this instance however, a very large dose coupled with an axe proves … life-altering for the user. Then we’re off to Indiana for a foul incident at a Dollar Tree (we love Dollar Tree) store. And this is not the first time the candles in the store have been

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43:02

Sucking At Liposuction, Toddler Fight Club, Trading...

The Absurd ·

2024/10/02

In this episode, Rod has a cold, and he’s not happy about it! Mel will tell us about a liposuction procedure using a dental suction device. Yeah, it didn’t go well. Next, Rod will take us to St Louis to learn about a fight club orchestrated by teachers at a daycare centre. Sounds fun right, but it really is a bad idea. For those of you with children, you ever thought of selling one of your babies? In Arkansas, the asking price is a $1,000 and a six-pack. Lastly, an actual beautiful story about a cat

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43:17

Bonus 5: Toe Wrestling, Korean Fan Fiction, Donkey...

The Absurd ·

2024/09/27

Here’s another fistful of absurdities. First we’re off to Derbyshire, England for some toe wrestling. Pretty sure Mel will be taking this up as a new hobby. Did you know that running an electric fan in your bedroom at night can kill you? In South Korea it can. Next we’re off to Spain for their own version of Bessie Bingo. Lastly we have a local story out of Guelph about an absurd incident that happened their just the other week.

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37:12

What’s The Beef With Cows, There’s A Mouse In My...

The Absurd ·

2024/09/25

When we think of dangerous animals, cows probably don’t come first to mind. Truth is, they kill several people a year in the UK alone. If you’ve ever flown, you know that airline food is so-so. Could be worse though. You could find a mouse in your meal like this passenger. Next a horrific tale of a man who murdered his wife … and pureed her. Lastly, will bring things up with a story out of California about a 6 year old boy who went missing in 1951 only to be found alive and reunited with his family

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44:38

Mercury Is Rising, Academic Abductions, Stop Eating...

The Absurd ·

2024/09/18

I think most of us can be competitive. At very least, none of us likes to lose. How far would you go to defeat your opponent? Would you poison them? This Russian chess player decided it was a good move. Next we’re off to Japan where a man abducted two teenage girls and held them at his home … so they could study. Then we’ll talk about the rare, terrifying, and even deadly Rapunzel syndrome. Lastly, Mel will take us on down to the ranch … and chicken strips. A St Louis woman lost what little mind she

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36:22

I Love You, I’ll Kill You, F**k Your Baby & A Garbage...

The Absurd ·

2024/09/11

I think it’s fair to say we can fall out of love, and fall in love with someone else. And parting ways is never easy. But how far would you be willing to go to move on with your new love? Would you drug someone to do it? This man and step-daughter did … to her own mother. Next, we’re going to meet a couple of super cowardly parents who abandoned their baby after she had been shot. Don’t worry. The baby is fine, but the parents are a couple of complete Richards. Lastly, we’re off to San Antonio,

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