Rephonic
Artwork for American Hysteria

American Hysteria

chelsey weber-smith
Urban Legends
Hallmark Christmas Movies
LGBTQ+ Representation
Pro Wrestling
Marilyn Manson
Candice Cameron Bure
Paranormal Entertainment Industry
Elmer Mccurdy
Gender Representation
Kayfabe
Factitious Disorder
American Hospitals
Munchausen Syndrome
Demerol
Ghost Hunting Shows
Supernatural Experiences
Psychology Of Belief
Auto-Fellatio
Sexuality
American Christmas Traditions

American Hysteria explores how fantastical thinking has shaped our culture – moral panics, urban legends, hoaxes, crazes, fringe beliefs, and national misunderstandings. Poet-turned-podcaster Chelsey Weber-Smith tells the strangest stories from American history and examines the forces that create the reality we share, and sometimes, the reality we don't.

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes268Founded7 years ago
Number of ListenersCategory
Society & Culture

Listen to this Podcast

Artwork for American Hysteria

Latest Episodes

George Civeris is the host of the comedy podcast Straightiolab as well as a new podcast called United States of Kennedy that explores our cultural fascination with the Kennedy dynasty and the ways that this family has continued to shape American life... more

Tim Harford is the host of the podcast Cautionary Tales which recently put out a series on the most famous magician of all time, Harry Houdini. For this episode, Sarah Marshall of You’re Wrong About joins me as co-host to discuss with Tim the Victori... more

This is a rerelease of our 2021 episode. In 2017, YouTube Kids was embroiled in a major scandal when it was discovered that a dark underbelly of inappropriate cartoons, computer animations, and live action videos were lurking just under the surface o... more

From Jonestown to Heaven’s Gate, to the Octopus Murders and the Waco Siege, the world is full of deception, manipulation, and destruction. Listen to Conspiracy Theories, Cults, and Crimes every Wednesday as we explore the real people at the center of... more

Key Facts

Accepts Guests
Accepts Sponsors
Contact Information
Podcast Host
Number of Listeners
Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

Similar Podcasts

People also subscribe to these shows.

You're Wrong About
You're Wrong AboutSarah Marshall
You Are Good
You Are GoodSarah Marshall + Alex Steed
Maintenance Phase
Maintenance PhaseAubrey Gordon & Michael Hobbes
If Books Could Kill
If Books Could KillMichael Hobbes & Peter Shamshiri

Recent Guests

Christine Laskowski
Video journalist and host of the podcast T&J
Podcast T&J
Episode: Not Just a Phase: Goths Through History with Christine Laskowski
Lerone A. Martin
Author and Professor in Religious Studies at Stanford University
Stanford University
Episode: The FBI's White Christian Nation with Lerone A. Martin
Adam Mahoney
Reporter for Capital B, a local and national nonprofit news organization specializing in crucial topics for Black communities.
Capital B
Episode: The Last Prison Rodeo with Journalist Adam Mahoney
Joshua Belhumeur
Co-host of the podcast 'This is Propaganda'
This is Propaganda
Episode: Luxury Doomsday with 'This is Propaganda'
Malcolm Critcher
Co-host of the podcast 'This is Propaganda'
This is Propaganda
Episode: Luxury Doomsday with 'This is Propaganda'
Gabe Lenners
Television and radio journalist, host of the podcast Obscurum
Obscurum
Episode: Invasion of the Drones with Podcaster Gabe Lenners
Loretta J. Ross
Reproductive rights activist and co-founder of SisterSong
SisterSong
Episode: (Throwback) An Irresistible Movement with Reproductive Justice Activist Loretta J. Ross
Shannon Lynch
Host of the podcast The Alley, focused on the 1984 murder of Catherine Fuller and the wrongful convictions of eight men.
The Alley, DC's 8th and H Case
Episode: In Pursuit of Pardons with Podcaster Shannon Lynch of 'The Alley: DC’s 8th and H Case'
Will Rogers
Voice actor, longtime friend of Chelsey Weber-Smith
Guide to the Unknown
Episode: Beyond Belief: Fiction or Fiction with Guide to the Unknown Podcast

Host

Chelsey Weber-Smith
Chelsey Weber-Smith is the host, known for her engaging storytelling style and personal anecdotes woven into cultural commentary. She brings a poetic sensibility to discussions about historical narratives and societal themes.

Reviews

4.5 out of 5 stars from 5.9k ratings
  • I’m getting so tired

    All this talk about queer solidarity and inclusion and then surprise special guest TERF supporter Tim Harford.

    I know we’re in the middle of a far right back lash but I have to say as a trans woman I don’t even know what to do anymore. I’m not even safe in the land of podcasts. I don’t know why I even continue to live.

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    Apis13
    United States7 days ago
  • An ongoing primer on the weird things that many Americans have believed - and continue to at alarming levels. Not clinical at all, there is a strong empathic narrative voice. I wish the host were more skeptical of new age and religious claims, as it's all hysteria, in context, even though it's really just people trying to make sense of the world, it doesn't mean the testability of claims takes a back seat to personal experience. I dislike the guest episodes where Sarah purrs at Chelsea.

    Podcast Addict
    3
    nnnn
    9 days ago
  • Well researched & entertaining

    Love this podcast. At first the topics may seem trivial & novelty but Chelsea has a way to make them insightful & relevant. I thoroughly enjoy the narration style & overall composition - even the sponsored content is humorous. Thank you!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    jessitalisa
    Australia10 days ago
  • So good, and relevant

    Started this podcast a few weeks ago, and listened from the first episode. It’s just so well done. The design, writing, everything. Beyond that, the older episodes (even upwards of 5 years old) still provide a relevant social reflection for today. To paraphrase ‘these hysterias are just a way to distract from the hard things we need to work on a society’. Just wow, really felt that as I listened.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    TeacherTracey
    United States10 days ago
  • Love the history and the humor

    Really fascinating and entertaining! Thank you for this show!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Frustratedthirdtry
    United States17 days ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Listeners appreciate the unique exploration of fringe topics and societal fears, noting the podcast's smart and witty commentary.
Many enjoy the historical context, but some express frustration with the host's delivery style, particularly during solo episodes.
The content is lauded for being informative and entertaining, with several reviews praising the high-quality guest selections.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

The Runaway Nun Hoax pt. 2 with Sarah Marshall of 'You're Wrong About'
Q: Would you be willing to try to summarize the book that we talked about, The Awful Disclosures of Maria Monk, published in 1836?
It's about a young woman who becomes a nun in a nunnery that is getting orders from the pope to smother babies and throw them in a pit, and to have priests make nuns put pins through their cheeks, again, on orders from the Vatican.
Erasing History with Philosopher Jason Stanley
Q: How do you see this unfolding in K-12 public schools?
Public schools will likely undergo similar changes, focusing on patriotic narratives and neglecting critical histories.
Erasing History with Philosopher Jason Stanley
Q: Does this feel like what you're talking about in terms of that kind of repression of story and narrative and the truth of a culture?
Yes, there is a strong societal push against educators trying to teach about diverse histories due to fear and backlash.
Erasing History with Philosopher Jason Stanley
Q: What is it exactly about people's history, like the, you know, non-dominant groups' history that is this frightening to a fascist group?
Fascists need citizens frightened of each other to justify the need for a strong leader; recognizing diverse perspectives undermines that fear.
Invasion of the Drones with Podcaster Gabe Lenners
Q: Did the media influence people's reports of sightings?
Yes, as media coverage increased, more people looked to the skies and reported seeing what they thought were drones.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
Age Range
Household Income
Social Media Reach

Frequently Asked Questions About American Hysteria

What is American Hysteria about and what kind of topics does it cover?

Exploring the influence of fantastical thinking on culture, a unique approach is taken to examine moral panics, urban legends, hoaxes, crazes, and fringe beliefs that permeate societal understanding. Each episode features the host's storytelling, often enriched by personal anecdotes and historical context, inviting listeners to reflect on how these narratives mold shared realities. Notable topics include urban legends surrounding babysitters, gender reveal parties, cultural phenomena related to youth behavior, and the implications of dark societal events like the Angola Prison Rodeo, making it a thought-provoking resource for those interested in the intersection of culture and the bizarre aspects of human history.

Where can I find podcast stats for American Hysteria?

Rephonic provides a wide range of podcast stats for American Hysteria. We scanned the web and collated all of the information that we could find in our comprehensive podcast database. See how many people listen to American Hysteria and access YouTube viewership numbers, download stats, audience demographics, chart rankings, ratings, reviews and more.

How many listeners does American Hysteria get?

Rephonic provides a full set of podcast information for three million podcasts, including the number of listeners. View further listenership figures for American Hysteria, including podcast download numbers and subscriber numbers, so you can make better decisions about which podcasts to sponsor or be a guest on. You will need to upgrade your account to access this premium data.

What are the audience demographics for American Hysteria?

Rephonic provides comprehensive predictive audience data for American Hysteria, including gender skew, age, country, political leaning, income, professions, education level, and interests. You can access these listener demographics by upgrading your account.

How many subscribers and views does American Hysteria have?

To see how many followers or subscribers American Hysteria has on Spotify and other platforms such as Castbox and Podcast Addict, simply upgrade your account. You'll also find viewership figures for their YouTube channel if they have one.

Which podcasts are similar to American Hysteria?

These podcasts share a similar audience with American Hysteria:

1. You're Wrong About
2. You Are Good
3. Maintenance Phase
4. If Books Could Kill
5. Sounds Like A Cult

How many episodes of American Hysteria are there?

American Hysteria launched 7 years ago and published 268 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact American Hysteria?

Our systems regularly scour the web to find email addresses and social media links for this podcast. We scanned the web and collated all of the contact information that we could find in our podcast database. But in the unlikely event that you can't find what you're looking for, our concierge service lets you request our research team to source better contacts for you.

Where can I see ratings and reviews for American Hysteria?

Rephonic pulls ratings and reviews for American Hysteria from multiple sources, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Castbox, and Podcast Addict.

View all the reviews in one place instead of visiting each platform individually and use this information to decide if a show is worth pitching or not.

How do I access podcast episode transcripts for American Hysteria?

Rephonic provides full transcripts for episodes of American Hysteria. Search within each transcript for your keywords, whether they be topics, brands or people, and figure out if it's worth pitching as a guest or sponsor. You can even set-up alerts to get notified when your keywords are mentioned.

What guests have appeared on American Hysteria?

Recent guests on American Hysteria include:

1. Christine Laskowski
2. Lerone A. Martin
3. Adam Mahoney
4. Joshua Belhumeur
5. Malcolm Critcher
6. Gabe Lenners
7. Loretta J. Ross
8. Shannon Lynch

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

Find and pitch the right podcasts

We help savvy brands, marketers and PR professionals to find the right podcasts for any topic or niche. Get the data and contacts you need to pitch podcasts at scale and turn listeners into customers.
Try it free for 7 days