Written by a model from the transcript; not yet reviewed.
In this episode of Side Stories, hosts Henry Zebrowski and Ed Larson cover a mix of recent bizarre news, convention experiences, and listener mail. They recount attending the Midsummer Scream horror convention in California, where Ed spent significant money on John Carpenter and other memorabilia while refusing to pay extra for photos, and discuss upcoming live tour dates across cities like Norfolk, Brooklyn, and Portland, Maine. The hosts then dive into strange true crime stories and viral news, including a teenager arrested after a violent attack in a clown-adjacent outfit, a man in the UK arrested for standing outside a hospital dressed as the Grim Reaper, a brutal North Carolina murder where inheritance money motivated a cash app robbery, Perez Hilton's recent viral breakdown on TikTok, and the notorious Philippine karaoke killings tied to Frank Sinatra's song My Way. Finally, they read a listener story about strange paranormal occurrences and sleep disruptions in an old apartment.
Hosts open the episode with a brief intro and a series of sponsor advertisements.
The hosts shift focus to the episode’s main subject, the grim reaper clause, and tease the upcoming stories.
They discuss their attempt to perform a live clip show at the Green Gravel Comedy Festival, including the chaotic audience and logistical challenges.
The hosts narrate the bizarre tale of Leon Gillespie, who posed as the Grim Reaper atop a hospital, leading to a humorous yet unsettling confrontation.
They explore various real-life stories involving people claiming to be the Grim Reaper, including hospital encounters and cultural myths.
The episode concludes with the hosts reflecting on the stories, offering final commentary, and closing remarks.
Hosts debate the moral fallout of Perez Hilton and TMZ, noting how fame can be built on exploitation and the eventual consequences for those who live ethically bankrupt lives.
The conversation shifts to TikTok’s censorship practices and the broader issue of corporate accountability in the age of AI and social media giants.
They discuss a disturbing case where an AI model failed to intervene in a potential mass shooting, highlighting the need for built‑in safety protocols in language models.
Hosts recount the bizarre Philippine phenomenon of people being killed for singing “My Way” off‑key, exploring cultural and psychological explanations for the trend.
The hosts promote their upcoming live shows, discuss ticket sales, and engage with listener mail, highlighting their community outreach efforts.
A personal story unfolds as one host describes eerie experiences in an old apartment, blending supernatural speculation with mundane household quirks.
Meeting John Carpenter at Midsummer Screamstory
Ed Larson recounts waiting in line to get John Carpenter to sign his In the Mouth of Madness vinyl, explaining the high cost of convention memorabilia and his refusal to pay extra for a photo.
Dressed as a Clown for Murderinsight
The hosts discuss a 15-year-old who wore a red and black Harlequin-style outfit and ski mask while committing a murder and trying to attack another person.
The Grim Reaper Hospital Stuntstory
A man named Leon Gillespie stood outside a hospital for an hour holding a scythe dressed as the Grim Reaper, later claiming to police that he was actually a crow.
Inheritance Murder in North Carolinadata
A North Carolina couple was charged with first-degree murder after shooting two people in their sleep who had been bragging about a $75,000 inheritance, then using their faces to transfer funds via Cash App.
Perez Hilton TikTok Breakdowninsight
The hosts discuss Perez Hilton's recent viral livestream where he cut himself and threatened suicide, leading to him being hospitalized under the Baker Act in Florida.
Karaoke Murders in the Philippinesdata
The hosts explore the real social phenomenon of the 'My Way killings' in the Philippines, where multiple people were murdered over off-key renditions of Frank Sinatra's song.
Rattlesnake Discovered in Football Helmetstory
A high school football player in Arkansas practiced for two hours before realizing a rattlesnake was hidden inside his helmet.
Attic Ghost and Sleep Paralysis Nightmarestory
In listener mail, a woman describes moving into an 1800s apartment with horsehair plaster where lights turned on by themselves, objects slid off nightstands, and she suffered severe back-pain nightmares.
“There's no place to escape to.”
“Oh, that's because he's evil. That's because it's literally just his intestinal lining.”
“And, uh, I remember there was also, there was a skip the line for us, but I didn't do it.”
“The audience was the single drunkest group of human beings I have ever seen in my ever-lovin' life.”
“Right? That's where ten mil- ten million's the number. If you've got less than ten million, don't kill everybody yet.”
“If you live an essentially morally bankrupt life, eventually it all comes around.”
“The real villain here is TikTok.”
“OpenAI is rushing towards its IPO opening, it's trying to get all this shit done, because they even had meetings.”
“People who don't perform, are performing.”
Henry & Eddie crawl out of Midsummer Scream with busted knees, empty wallets, and an irresponsible number of 4K DVDs... RFK Jr. sings the praises of the perfect shit, a hacky killer clown caught on RingCam bearing gifts, the Grim Reaper hit with charges after loitering outside UK hospital, Sinatra karaoke turns fatal, an Arkansas football player spends two hours sharing his helmet with a rattlesnake, Listener E-Mails, and MORE!
16,094 words · 6 speakers
Speaker names marked are inferred from speaking time and the show’s known hosts — they are not voice-verified.
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