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Send us Fan Mail If you grew up watching Scooby-Doo, The Jetsons, Yogi Bear, Jonny Quest, Wacky Races, or The Smurfs, chances are you already knew Don Messick—you just didn't know his name. One of animation's most talented and prolific voice actors, Messick brought an astonishing variety of characters to life, including Scooby-Doo, Astro, Boo-Boo Bear, Ranger Smith, Muttley, Dr. Benton Quest, Papa Smurf, and Azrael. Of course, no Psycho Bob Says episode would be complete without a healthy dose of feline commentary. Bob is particularly impressed that the man who gave us Scooby-Doo also voiced Azrael, Gargamel's cat, proving once again that cats have excellent taste in entertainment. Support the show

Send us Fan Mail For nearly 500 years, the tomb of Polish King Casimir IV Jagiellon remained sealed beneath Wawel Cathedral. When the royal tomb was opened in 1973 for conservation work, no one expected the discovery to become one of history's strangest "curse" stories. Within the following years, members of the 12-person restoration team died prematurely, leading to rumors of a Jagiellonian curse. The mystery took an unexpected turn when microbiologist Bolesław Smyk identified Aspergillus flavus in samples from the tomb. The fungus can produce dangerous aflatoxins and its spores can cause serious respiratory infections under the right conditions. While scientists cannot definitively attribute every death to the fungus, the discovery provided a far more plausible explanation than a supernatural curse. Support the show

Send us Fan Mail  In this episode of Psycho Bob Says…, Shakin Shaner and Psycho Bob dive into one of the strangest and most unsettling gadgets of the Cold War: the CIA’s infamous “heart attack gun.” Discover how this bizarre assassination device worked, why saxitoxin was involved, and how the weapon came to public attention during the 1975 Church Committee hearings. We also separate the documented history from the conspiracy theories surrounding the gun—and ask the big question: was it ever actually used? It’s a fascinating trip into the shadowy world of Cold War espionage, where sometimes the strangest stories are the ones that are actually true.  Support the show

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, Shakin Shaner Psycho Bob and returning guest Jody revisit one of the most underrated action films of the 1990s—The Long Kiss Goodnight (1996). Starring Geena Davis and Samuel L. Jackson, this cult classic blends explosive action, razor-sharp dialogue, and a gripping tale of espionage into one unforgettable movie. Join us as we break down the film's unforgettable characters, memorable one-liners, behind-the-scenes trivia, and why this Shane Black-penned thriller deserves far more recognition than it received upon its original release. We discuss Geena Davis's impressive stunt work, Samuel L. Jackson's scene-stealing performance, Renny Harlin's direction, and the incredible practical effects that helped make this film a favorite among action movie fans.  Support the show

Send us Fan Mail Psycho Bob the Cat dives into one of America's most enduring culinary debates: ketchup versus catsup.  From ancient Southeast Asian fish sauces to the rise of Heinz and the standardization of "ketchup," discover the surprisingly rich history behind the famous tomato condiment. Packed with humor, historical trivia, and Psycho Bob's trademark feline wisdom, this article explores how language, tradition, and family history can turn a simple bottle of sauce into a cultural phenomenon.  Support the show

Send us Fan Mail Long before superheroes, fantasy warriors, and legendary kings filled the pages of literature, there was Gilgamesh—the world's first literary hero. In this episode, Psycho Bob and Shaner  explore the enduring significance of The Epic of Gilgamesh, humanity's oldest surviving epic poem, and examine how its themes of friendship, grief, mortality, and the search for meaning continue to resonate more than 4,000 years after it was written. From the ancient city of Uruk to modern appearances in Marvel Comics and the film Eternals, Gilgamesh's journey has influenced countless heroes and storytelling traditions. Discover why the first hero in recorded literature remains one of the most important figures in the history of human storytelling.  Support the show

Send us Fan Mail Most werewolf legends are tales of curses, monsters, and terror lurking in the shadows. But what if one of history's most famous werewolves claimed to be a servant of God? In this episode of Psycho Bob Says…, Psycho Bob the Cat sends Shakin Shaner down a fascinating rabbit hole into the strange case of Thiess of Kaltenbrun, an 80-year-old man who appeared before a court in Swedish Livonia in 1691 and openly declared himself a werewolf. What followed was one of the most unusual supernatural testimonies ever recorded. Thiess claimed that werewolves were not agents of Satan but "God's hounds"—supernatural warriors who descended into Hell to battle witches and recover stolen crops, livestock, and blessings for the good of humanity. Join Shaner and Psycho Bob as they explore the historical record, the folklore behind the legend, and the possibility that Thiess may have preserved echoes of ancient pagan traditions hidden beneath the surface of Christian Europe. Along the way, you'll discover why this remarkable story continues to fascinate historians, folklorists, and lovers of the weird more than three centuries later. Was Thiess a holy werewolf, a folk healer, a keeper of forgotten traditions, or simply one of history's most colorful characters? Tune in and decide for yourself. Support the show

Send us Fan Mail Grab a snack and join Shakin Shaner, Psycho Bob the Cat, and special guest Scott as they dive headfirst into the sweet battlefield of candy bars. From the ancient origins of cacao in Mesoamerica to the rise of modern chocolate empires, this episode unwraps the surprising history behind one of the world’s favorite guilty pleasures. Along the way, the crew takes a nostalgic trip back to childhood memories, Halloween candy hauls, and the excitement of buying your favorite treat at the local store. They break down the biggest candy brands, uncover strange and lesser-known candy facts, debate what actually qualifies as a candy bar, and put their taste buds—and opinions—to the test. The battle reaches full sugar-fueled intensity as Shaner and Scott reveal their Top 3 favorite candy bars and name the treats they’d gladly leave at the bottom of the Halloween bag. Chocolate history, nerdy rabbit holes, nostalgia, and a few questionable opinions collide in this candy-coated adventure. The only real question left is: what’s your favorite candy bar? Let the Candy Bar Wars begin. Support the show

Send us Fan Mail Psycho Bob was left unsupervised with energy drinks, internet rabbit holes, and entirely too much free time—which can only lead to chaos. In this episode of Psycho Bob Says, Bob drags Shaner and the Nerd Herd through a collection of strange, surprising, and downright bizarre facts that sound completely made up... but somehow aren’t. Discover the goldfish that lived for 43 years, meet the World War II bear that outranked Shaner, learn why polar bears aren’t actually white, and find out why cuddling a platypus might be a life-changing mistake. Along the way, Bob also uncovers strange truths about coins, geography, smartphones, cereal, and even vegetables that apparently grow loudly enough to announce themselves. Packed with weird history, odd science, terrible cat puns, and the usual dose of Psycho Bob chaos, this episode proves that reality is often stranger than fiction. Press paws, embrace the weird, and join us for another journey into the passion, the madness, and the absurd. Support the show

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, Shakin Shaner and Psycho Bob dive headfirst into one of history’s strangest and most unsettling phenomena: mass sociogenic illness—better known as mass hysteria.  What happens when entire communities experience real symptoms… with no clear physical cause? From the bizarre Dancing Plague of 1518, where hundreds danced themselves to exhaustion, to the eerie Tanganyika Laughing Epidemic, where laughter spread uncontrollably across schools, this episode explores the fine line between mind and body—and how fear, stress, and belief can ripple through entire populations.  Along the way, the duo examines infamous cases like the Salem Witch Trials, the mysterious Mad Gasser of Mattoon, and even the panic sparked by Orson Welles’ radio adaptation of The War of the Worlds.  Blending humor, curiosity, and a touch of the absurd, this episode reveals a deeper truth: these events may sound unbelievable—but the fear and suffering behind them were very real. And perhaps most unsettling of all… we’re not as immune as we might think.  Tune in, Nerd Herd, and explore how the power of belief can shape reality in ways both fascinating and frightening.  Support the show

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of Psycho Bob Says, we ride deep into the lawless frontier to uncover the story of Bass Reeves—one of the most legendary lawmen the Wild West ever produced… and one history nearly overlooked. Born into slavery and forged in the chaos of the Civil War, Reeves escaped into Indian Territory and built a life defined by survival, skill, and unshakable resolve. What followed was nothing short of extraordinary. As a U.S. Deputy Marshal under Isaac Parker, Reeves became a one-man force of justice, arresting over 3,000 criminals across some of the most dangerous land in America. Support the show

Send us Fan Mail  In this nostalgia-fueled episode of What’s Shakin With Shaner, Shaner and his whiskered co-host Psycho Bob the Cat dive headfirst into one of the most joyful accidents in Saturday morning cartoon history: the psychedelic, pop-rock chase songs of Scooby-Doo, Where Are You. This a cross over event with Matt Spectro's podcast episode.  To listen to that episode clickhere To visite our website with links to all of the songs, clickhere.  Joined by returning guest and fellow podcaster Matt Spectro, the trio explore how these upbeat musical numbers transformed fear into fun, turning haunted houses, mummies, creepers, and phantoms into high-energy musical montages. The episode breaks down several of the chase songs from Season 2, ranked and analyzed for their tone, lyrics, visual impact, and emotional effect—from the dreamy brilliance of “Daydreamin’” to the cheerful chaos of “7 Days a Week.”  It’s part music history, part cartoon philosophy, and part pure Nerd Herd joy—a love letter to the idea that sometimes, when a monster appears, the best response isn’t panic… it’s a killer groove.  Support the show

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of Psycho Bob Says…, host Shakin Shaner—joined by his ever-judgmental feline co‑host Psycho Bob—dives into the extraordinary life of Grace O’Malley, the 16th‑century Irish sea captain, clan leader, and pirate queen who defied both tradition and an empire. Told with wit, atmosphere, and sharp historical insight, this episode reframes piracy not as chaos, but as organization, resistance, and survival. Grace O’Malley didn’t conquer nations—but she lived free in a world designed to crush her, leaving a legacy that still echoes wherever the sea remembers those bold enough to sail it. Support the show

Send us Fan Mail  Sparked by a suggestion from Dave in Texas (Nerd Herd represent!), this episode explores the 2,000-year reign of a practice once considered cutting-edge medicine. From the ancient theory of the four humors to the “heroic medicine” of the 18th century, we trace how physicians across civilizations believed that draining blood could cure nearly everything — from fevers and pneumonia to insanity and even excessive bleeding. Yes… they treated bleeding by bleeding.  Support the show

Send us Fan Mail  Traveling to the Northwoods near Rhinelander, Wisconsin, this episode unpacks how isolation, lumberjack life, and tall-tale culture gave birth to a spiny, red-eyed nightmare said to stalk the forests and howl just beyond the firelight. From its exaggerated anatomy and bizarre taste for bulldogs to the infamous hoaxes that helped cement its legend, the Hodag is revealed as more than a monster—it’s a symbol of fear, wilderness, and humanity’s uneasy relationship with nature.  Support the show