Episode 54: The Tragic Death of Betty Williams
Summary
CW for suicide, suicidal ideation, depression and violence. Listener discretion is advised.
In this episode, Abby discusses the tragic death of Betty Williams in Odessa, Texas in 1960. Betty was a theatre kid who dressed differently and had more progressive ideas than her peers. For this reason, she was often an outsider and struggled with self esteem and depression. Eventually, Betty asked some friends to kill her. What happened next will shock you.
If you or a loved one experience thoughts of suicide, please reach out via phone: 1-800-273-8255 or online: https://suicidepreventionlifeline.org/chat/
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Abby’s Sources:
Wikipedia
https://www.texasmonthly.com/articles/a-kiss-before-dying/amp/ — Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/queersforfears/support
Transcription
Episode 52: Creepy Sea Creatures
Summary
The ocean is a palace of horrors. In this episode of QFF, Ellie describes some terrible sea creatures lurking in the deep. If you want to “sea” more, check out our July video episode on Patreon, in which we discuss our Sea Creatures in a bracket-style tournament (7/25).
Support us and check out our merch at: www.queersforfears.com
Sources:
National Ocean Service
Encyclopedia Britannica
NYT
FL Museum of Natural History
NPR
WaPo
Chesapeake Bay Program
Australian Museum
Natural History Museum (London)
BBC
Smithsonian
Te Papa Tongarewa (National Museum of New Zealand) — Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/queersforfears/support
Transcription
Episode 51: Murderous Makeup and Makeup-wearers
Summary
Abby and Ellie talk makeup history and horror. “positively fucking horrendous” – Marvin on skin-related horror (we take this as a compliment).
Support this podcast: www.queersforfears.com
Sources:
- https://strangeremains.com/2017/01/31/beauty-to-die-for-how-vanity-killed-an-18th-century-celebutante/
- https://www.thecut.com/2013/12/most-dangerous-beauty-through-the-ages.html
- Bailey Sarian Videos on Youtube
- https://www.nytimes.com/2020/10/21/health/brazilian-blowout-formaldehyde-fda.html
- Wikipedia
— Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/queersforfears/support
Transcription
Episode 50: Belle Gunness
Summary
The Black Widow, The Lady Bluebeard, Belle Gunness. Whatever you want to call her, she’s said to have killed upwards of 40 men. What’s her deal? Find out on this episode of Queers for Fears. — Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/queersforfears/support
Transcription
Episode 49: Burial Practices with special guest, a fly
Summary
Ellie chats about the history of burial practices and why we as a society are so afraid of death. The origins of some of our culture’s traditions to mourn the dead are also discussed.
Sources:
Smoke Gets in Your Eyes and Other Lessons from the Crematory by Caitlin Doughty
Support us: queersforfears.com — Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/queersforfears/support
Transcription
Episode 48: Mirrors
Summary
Abby walks through a brief history of mirrors, superstitions surrounding mirrors, creepy mirror games and mirrors in horror movies. Why are they so darn creepy to us? Find out in this episode of Queers for Fears.
Support Us: www.queersforfears.com
patreon.com/queersforfearspodcast
Sponsors:
Bruush: Save 15% with promo code POD15 using this link: https://bit.ly/3xe5g7S
Sources:
Wikipedia
https://www.cnn.com/2013/02/22/tech/social-media/apparently-this-matters-haunted-mirror/index.html
http://hauntedattractiononline.com/haunted-mirrors-world/
https://www.fandango.com/movie-photos/top-11-horror-movie-mirrors-789 — Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/queersforfears/support
Transcription
Movisode 15: Things Heard and Seen & The Murder of Cathleen Krauseneck
Summary
It’s the first week of the month so that means it’s a movisode, everybody! In this episode, Ellie discusses the new thriller straight-to-streaming-service Things Heard and Seen starring Amanda Seyfried and James Norton. Then Abby discusses the inspiration for the film: the author’s spooky ghost stories in her own farmhouse and the murder of Cathleen Krauseneck one cold February in 1982. Her husband, 37 years later in 2019 was indicted on second degree murder charges, but there are many folks that doubt his involvement. Find out more on this episode of Queers for Fears!
Support us: queersforfears.com for social media, blog posts, our merchandise and more
patreon.com/queersforfearspodcast to keep the laughs and research going!
Support our Sponsor: Bruush https://bit.ly/3xe5g7S
Movie: Things Heard and Seen (2021)
Abby’s Sources:
Wikipedia
https://krauseneck.com/about-us/
The New York Times: WOMAN, 29, FOUND SLAIN WITH AX IN HER HOME IN ROCHESTER SUBURB (1982)
https://abcnews.go.com/US/husband-charged-1982-ax-killing-wife-chief-calls/story?id=66935195
https://www.elle.com.au/news/netflix-things-heard-and-seen-true-story-25161 — Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/queersforfears/support
Transcription
Episode 47: May Combisode: The Last Woman Executed in England and Historic Fires
Summary
In this episode, Abby and Ellie’s witty banter includes but is not limited to: this school year lasting forever, firefighting, being sweaty, and so on.
Then, Abby dives into the sad story of Ruth Ellis, a woman who was discriminated against for being 1. A woman, 2. “Lower Class” and 3. A sex-worker. Ruth, who struggled with abusive relationships with men, snapped one night. Her story is a sad tale for women everywhere. CW for pregnancy loss and suicide.
Finally, Ellie discusses some historic fires, their failures, and the safety measures that we now have in place as a result of these terrifying tragedies. CW for death of children.
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Sponsors:
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Sources:
Abby:
Wikipedia
Ruth Ellis: the Murder Case We Can’t Forget, published by The Guardian 2018 by Duncan Campbell
Murder Maps Season 3, Episode 4: Ruth Ellis
Ellie:
Wikipedia
The presentations of her peers — Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/queersforfears/support
Transcription
Episode 46: The Mysterious Death of Maria Marta Garcia Belunce
Summary
After Abby and Ellie talk about the plights of fire academy training, teaching during the longest school year known to man and “adulting” nonsense (looking at you, Comcast Customer Support and the Department of Motor Vehicles) Abby dives in to the mysterious death of Maria Marta, an upper class Argentine woman who died in October of 2002. At first, it seemed like a terrible accident: a woman slipped, hit her head and fell in the bath tub. But how could she have slipped if her tennis shoes were still on? And why was she fully dressed if she was getting ready to take her Sunday afternoon bath? Oh yeah, and then there was a fake death certificate, cleaning up the crime scene too early and not following with the doctor’s advice to call the police for this so-called “accident.” Was this death really a terrible accident or a gruesome murder? And if it was, who could have murdered a sweet, charitable woman in a gated community? Find out on this week’s episode of Queers for Fears
Check out our website, purchase merch, or make a one time donation here: www.queersforfears.com
Support Us: patreon.com/queersforfearspodcast
Sponsors:
PODGO: podgo.co
Sources:
The documentary Quien mato a Maria Marta? (Who Killed Maria Marta?)
Evidence, trial documents, and media coverage: https://casobelsunce.blogspot.com/ — Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/queersforfears/support
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