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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

43:39

Episode 389 - Australia's Flying Terror

Weird Crap in Australia ·

2025/12/08

Australia has produced many formidable creatures: sharks, snakes, drop bears… but none strike fear into the national heart quite like the humble magpie. We’re diving beak-first into the legend of Australia’s Flying Terror — from swooping season strategies and infamous attack hotspots to the science behind why these monochrome missiles pick their targets.Join Matthew & Holly as they explore the birds' surprising intelligence, their role in folklore, and the heroic lengths Australians go to simply

en

65:15

Episode 388 - The Weightman Murders (2000)

Weird Crap in Australia ·

2025/12/01

In January 2000, a car was found at the bottom of an embankment in Heathcote National Park. Inside were Bill and Pam Weightman — a respectable south-west Sydney couple, seemingly the victims of a tragic late-night accident. Police found no skid marks. No witnesses. No sign of another vehicle. Within hours, the case was closed.But nothing about the scene truly added up. Why were two cautious, routine-driven people out so late? Why did their injuries raise quiet questions no one followed up? And how

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117:06

Weird Crap Movie Commentary 3 - Gallipoli (1981)

Weird Crap in Australia ·

2025/11/24

What happens when you blend mateship, mud, and the gut-punch of history with a film that refuses to let you stay emotionally upright? You get Gallipoli (1981) — a classic that still knocks the wind out of us every single time we watch itJoin Holly and Matthew as they revisit one of Australia’s most enduring war dramas. From the larrikin charm of its opening act to the stark, sobering descent into the trenches, we’ll explore what makes Gallipoli such a powerful piece of Australian storytelling — and

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45:49

Episode 386 - The Rats of Tobruk Part 2

Weird Crap in Australia ·

2025/11/10

In 1941, amid the blistering sands of North Africa, a band of Australian soldiers earned one of the most enduring nicknames in military history — The Rats of Tobruk. Besieged by German and Italian forces, these men held the Libyan port town of Tobruk for eight gruelling months, defying the odds, the desert, and the propaganda of the Axis powers.What began as an insult from Nazi radio became a badge of honour. The Australians dug in — literally — carving homes and defenses from the desert rock while

en

37:58

Episode 385 - The Rats of Tobruk Part 1

Weird Crap in Australia ·

2025/11/03

In 1941, amid the blistering sands of North Africa, a band of Australian soldiers earned one of the most enduring nicknames in military history — The Rats of Tobruk. Besieged by German and Italian forces, these men held the Libyan port town of Tobruk for eight gruelling months, defying the odds, the desert, and the propaganda of the Axis powers.What began as an insult from Nazi radio became a badge of honour. The Australians dug in — literally — carving homes and defenses from the desert rock while

en

50:56

Episode 384 - Mr. Jolly Squiggles, the Man from the...

Weird Crap in Australia ·

2025/10/27

He was the upside-down man who brought imagination to life — with nothing more than a pencil for a nose and a blackboard for a stage. Mr Squiggle, the beloved children’s television icon, captured the hearts of generations with his wobbly lines, friendly charm, and boundless creativity.Travel back to the earliest age of Australian TV to explore how Norman Hetherington’s quirky puppet became a national treasure. From his humble beginnings on ABC in 1959 to the stories the hosts' own mothers told them

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93:21

Weird Crap Movie Commentary 2 - Lake Mungo (2008)

Weird Crap in Australia ·

2025/10/20

What happens when you mix grief, ghosts, and grainy home video with a dose of uncanny realism? You get Lake Mungo (2008) — a haunting mockumentary that feels a little too real for comfort - especially for Holly.In this Spooktober commentary track, join Holly and Matthew as they revisit one of Australia’s most chilling modern horror films. From the eerie performances to the quiet dread that creeps under your skin, we’ll unpack what makes Lake Mungo a masterclass in slow-burn terror — and why it still

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57:07

Episode 383 - The Lawyer X Scandal Part 3

Weird Crap in Australia ·

2025/10/13

Few scandals have shaken Australia’s justice system like the Lawyer X affair. At the center was a prominent barrister who secretly worked as a police informant, all while representing some of the country’s most notorious criminals. Her name was tied to dozens of figures on both sides of the law, leaving behind a trail of questions about loyalty, ethics, and justice.By living a double life, she jeopardised the very foundation of the courts. Convictions were thrown into doubt, appeals were launched,

en

56:59

Episode 381 - The Lawyer X Scandal Part 1

Weird Crap in Australia ·

2025/09/29

Few scandals have shaken Australia’s justice system like the Lawyer X affair. At the center was a prominent barrister who secretly worked as a police informant, all while representing some of the country’s most notorious criminals. Her name was tied to dozens of figures on both sides of the law, leaving behind a trail of questions about loyalty, ethics, and justice.By living a double life, she jeopardised the very foundation of the courts. Convictions were thrown into doubt, appeals were launched,

en

48:04

Episode 380 - The Voyage of the Catalpa (1876)

Weird Crap in Australia ·

2025/09/22

In 1876, one of the most daring prison escapes in history set sail from Fremantle, Western Australia. The American whaling ship Catalpa was at the heart of the plot, masterminded by Irish Fenians determined to free their comrades from the brutal Fremantle Prison. With clever disguises, coded messages, and a nail-biting chase at sea, the Catalpa’s voyage became a legendary tale of rebellion, ingenuity, and defiance against the British Empire.In this episode, we dive into the planning, the escape

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49:55

Episode 379 - The Barrington Tops Crash

Weird Crap in Australia ·

2025/09/15

On August 9, 1981, a small Cessna 210 aircraft carrying five men vanished over the rugged wilderness of Barrington Tops, NSW. Despite extensive searches, no wreckage or remains were ever recovered, and the fate of the aircraft remains one of Australia’s most baffling aviation mysteries. In this episode, we explore the background of the passengers, the last radio transmissions, the massive search efforts, and the eerie theories that still surround the disappearance. Was it a tragic accident, or is

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106:45

Weird Crap Movie Commentary 1 - Howling 3: The...

Weird Crap in Australia ·

2025/08/25

What happens when you take werewolves, marsupials, a low budget, and the golden age of Ozploitation cinema? You get Howling III: The Marsupials — one of the strangest, campiest horror sequels ever put to film.In this commentary track, join Holly and Matthew as they sit down with this oddball slice of Australian cinema. From the marsupial pouch transformations to the utterly bonkers plot, we’ll laugh, groan, and celebrate everything that makes Howling III a cult classic.Grab the movie, hit play, and

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56:19

Episode 376 - The Granville Train Disaster Part 2

Weird Crap in Australia ·

2025/08/18

On the morning of 18 January 1977, Blue Mountains commuters boarded their usual train, expecting nothing more than another routine ride to work. Instead, the Granville train disaster became Australia’s deadliest rail accident. When a commuter train derailed and slammed into a road bridge, the collapse that followed trapped dozens in a nightmare of twisted metal and rubble. Rescue crews fought against the clock, and the nation watched in horror as the death toll rose.Join Holly & Matthew as they

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60:33

Episode 371 - The Cronulla Riots Part 1

Weird Crap in Australia ·

2025/07/14

HIn this episode, we dive into one of the most confronting chapters of modern Australian history: the Cronulla Riots of December 2005. Sparked by rising tensions, fuelled by alcohol, misinformation, and nationalism, what started as a “community protest” quickly turned into an ugly and violent display of racial hatred.Join Holly & Matthew as they look into an event about fear, blame, and what happens when divisions in the community explode into the public eye.Become a supporter of this podcast:

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46:39

Episode 370 - The Birdman of the Coorong

Weird Crap in Australia ·

2025/07/07

In the lonely dunes of South Australia’s Coorong, legend speaks of a bushranger so strange he’s hard to forget: the Birdman of the Coorong. Unlike his horse-riding peers, this eccentric outlaw was rumoured to have galloped through the saltbush atop an ostrich.Was he a real menace to passing coaches, or just a yarn spun to spook travellers on the road to Kingston SE?Join Holly & Matthew as they dig into the history, rumour, and colonial oddity behind one of Australia’s most curious crime

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58:06

Episode 368 - The Story of INXS Part 2

Weird Crap in Australia ·

2025/06/23

Before they were stadium superstars, INXS were just six Aussie blokes carving out a sound in the sweaty pubs of Sydney. In this episode, we chart the meteoric rise of one of Australia’s biggest musical exports—from their gritty early days, to the glitz of international fame, and the tragic loss of frontman Michael Hutchence.Join Holly & Matthew as they dive into their chart-topping hits, backstage drama, controversies, and lasting legacy. It’s the story of a band that defined a generation and

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44:35

Episode 365 - Sir Douglas Mawson and the Home of the...

Weird Crap in Australia ·

2025/06/02

Douglas Mawson wasn’t just a survivor—he was a scientific powerhouse who helped put Australia on the map of polar exploration. His adventures began with the 1907–1909 Nimrod Expedition under Ernest Shackleton, during which he became one of the first to reach the Magnetic South Pole and climb Mount Erebus. But it was his own Australasian Antarctic Expedition from 1911 to 1914 that sealed his place in history.Mawson’s leadership, grit, and heartbreak defined that journey. Stranded alone after the

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52:03

Episode 363 - The Wedge-Tail Eagle

Weird Crap in Australia ·

2025/05/19

Australia’s largest bird of prey, the wedge-tailed eagle , is a creature of raw power and mythic presence. With a piercing gaze adapted for hunting across vast landscapes, these raptors are found soaring over deserts, forests, and farmland alike.Once hunted by farmers who saw them as threats to livestock, wedge-tails are now protected. Revered in local lore and feared by foxes, drones, and the occasional unlucky hang-glider, the wedge-tailed eagle is a symbol of survival, adaptability, and the wild

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69:14

Episode 360 - The Legend of the Anzacs Part 1

Weird Crap in Australia ·

2025/04/28

The legend of the ANZACs was born not through victory, but through courage, endurance, and mateship under fire. From the rocky shores of Gallipoli to the muddy battlefields of the Western Front, Australian and New Zealand troops earned a reputation for resilience, resourcefulness, and unbreakable spirit.Though the Gallipoli campaign ended in withdrawal, the actions of the ANZACs forged a national identity that continues to shape Australia and New Zealand today. Their story is one of hardship,

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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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346 results

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