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30 Morbid Minutes

Journey into the morbid, macabre, gruesome and unexplained, with comedians and friends Elyse Willems and Jessica Vasami. Covering topics like: untimely deaths on cruise ships, sleep paralysis demons, celebrity death hoaxes, obituary bandits, pesky cursed objects, spontaneous human combustion, zombie apocalypses, the Victorian obsession with death, screaming mummies, the Dark Forest alien paradox, medical malpractice, good old-fashioned cannibalism, and so much more.

Episodes on Mondays.

***Featured in Apple Podcast's New & Noteworthy 2022.***

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20 episodes
Avg 29 min
English

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July 6 · 27 min
Human Taxidermy and the Exploitation of Death
While traditional animal taxidermy relies on preserving an animal body covered in fur or feathers, human taxidermy -- the method of preserving and displaying human remains and skin -- has a controversial history. We examine some of the more notable cases. Leave us a review -- it helps the show! :) ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠30 Morbid Minutes⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ is made by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Elyse Willems⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and Jessica Vasami Music by ⁠⁠Casey Edwards ⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
June 15 · 32 min
Did the Bell Witch actually terrorize a president?
The Bell Witch might be the most documented haunting from American pioneer times. But what’s the real story here? Find out, in 30 Morbid Minutes. Leave us a review -- it helps the show! :) ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠30 Morbid Minutes⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ is made by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Elyse Willems⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and Jessica Vasami Music by ⁠⁠Casey Edwards ⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
May 4 · 22 min
The Euthanasia Coaster: An Ethical Death Machine?
Designed by Lithuanian artist Julijonas Urbonas, the Euthanasia Coaster is a hypothetical steel roller coaster and euthanasia device designed with the sole purpose of killing its passengers. We described (very vividly) the experience of riding this death machine. Leave us a review -- it helps the show! :) ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠30 Morbid Minutes⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ is made by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Elyse Willems⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and Jessica Vasami Music by ⁠⁠Casey Edwards ⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
April 13 · 25 min
"What's the Strangest Request?" - Q&A with a Funeral Home Director
Curious about the inner thoughts and routines of a career mortician? We pull the best questions from a Reddit AMA with a real life funeral home director. Leave us a review -- it helps the show! :) ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠30 Morbid Minutes⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ is made by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Elyse Willems⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and Jessica Vasami Music by ⁠⁠Casey Edwards ⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
March 30 · 40 min
From the Crypt: Death at Disneyland (Re-release)
Disney controls its family friendly image with an iron, four-fingered fist, but even the all-seeing Mouse House can’t anticipate every casualty – including the tragic deaths of park visitors or staff. Between 2006 and 2020, more than 20 people have met their end while at Florida’s Magic Kingdom, and countless others have died in fatal incidents at other parks around the globe. We investigate the main causes while attempting to debunk some infamous myths and rumors. (Originally released June 13, 2022) Leave us a review -- it helps the show! :) ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠30 Morbid Minutes⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ is made by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Elyse Willems⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and Jessica Vasami Music by ⁠⁠Casey Edwards ⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
March 16 · 25 min
Famous Last Words
What lasting impact can someone's final words leave? We talk about the new Netflix series Famous Last Words, and examine some of history's most iconic and memorable deathbed quotes. Leave us a review -- it helps the show! :) ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠30 Morbid Minutes⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ is made by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Elyse Willems⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and Jessica Vasami Music by ⁠⁠Casey Edwards ⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
March 2 · 19 min
Headless Saints: Religion's Morbid Martyrs
Have you ever seen a painting of a saint holding their own severed head in their hands? These saints are known as cephalophore saints, and each and everyone one has a distinctly morbid backstory. Their headless predicament certainly begs the question: where does the halo go? Leave us a review -- it helps the show! :) ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠30 Morbid Minutes⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ is made by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Elyse Willems⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and Jessica Vasami Music by ⁠⁠Casey Edwards ⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
February 16 · 33 min
From the Crypt: Incorruptibility of Saints
How would you react if you saw a dead body that, after a year, still looked like the person had died just yesterday? What about after five years? A hundred? This type of preservation, called incorruptibility, can happen. And while some consider it a holy miracle, science tells a different story. (Originally released February 27, 2024) 30 Morbid Minutes is made by Elyse Willems and Jessica Vasami Music by Casey Edwards Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
February 2 · 30 min
Some Really Weird Wills
Discussing what a Last Will and Testament is, and why you should have one, plus, some of Reddit's weirdest Wills. Leave us a review -- it helps the show! :) ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠30MorbidMinutes⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ is made by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Elyse Willems⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and Jessica Vasami Music by ⁠⁠Casey Edwards ⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
January 19 · 24 min
Reintroducing 30 Morbid Minutes with Jessica & Elyse!
It's time for a quick catch-up with your favorite gruesome twosome. Elyse and Jessica talk about the state of the podcast, what's to come, and of course, get a little silly. Leave us a review -- it helps the show! 30 Morbid Minutes is made by Elyse Willems and Jessica Vasami, with theme music composed by Casey Edwards. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Dec 29, 2025 · 21 min
Taking the Corpse Road
From their practical role in funerary processions, to the eerie folklore and superstitions that later surrounded them, this episode traces the history of corpse roads in Medieval England. Leave us a review -- it helps the show! 30 Morbid Minutes is made by Elyse Willems and Jessica Vasami, with theme music composed by Casey Edwards. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Dec 15, 2025 · 28 min
From the Crypt: Ghost Stories During Christmas - A Victorian Tradition We Need to Bring Back
This episode was originally released December 19, 2023 Gathering around the fire and telling ghost stories during the holiday season was extremely in vogue during the Victorian Era. We explore how a tradition of yuletide terror came to be, and the authors behind it. Leave us a review -- it helps the show! 30 Morbid Minutes is made by Elyse Willems and Jessica Vasami, with music by Casey Edwards. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Dec 1, 2025 · 31 min
What Does a Coroner Do? (Reddit AMA with a Coroner)
We’re doing a thorough examination of what life is like for a professional coroner, pulling questions from a Reddit AMA in which a real-life coroner gives personal insight into the ways in which they investigate deaths, locate and notify families of deaths, determine cause and manner of death, and relay information to the media. Leave us a review -- it helps the show! :) Follow Us ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠30MorbidMinutes⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Elyse Willems⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Jessica Vasami⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Music by ⁠⁠Casey Edwards ⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Nov 10, 2025 · 24 min
Is It Common to Die on Your Birthday?
Sometimes a surprise birthday party can result in an unforeseen death. We explore the dark statistical phenomenon that is the Birthday Effect. Leave us a review -- it helps the show! :) Follow Us ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠30MorbidMinutes⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Elyse Willems⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Jessica Vasami⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Music by ⁠⁠Casey Edwards ⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Oct 27, 2025 · 30 min
Cemetery Sleepovers: Not As Morbid As You Think?
What compels thrill-seekers and ghosthunters to spend the night amongst the gravestones? And how do local communities use cemeteries for special events and spooky movie nights? Find out, in 30 Morbid Minutes. Leave us a review -- it helps the show! :) Follow Us ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠30MorbidMinutes⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Elyse Willems⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Jessica Vasami⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Music by ⁠Casey Edwards Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Oct 20, 2025 · 34 min
From the Crypt: The History of Halloween - America's Most Morbid Holiday
Spooky enthusiasts rejoice, it's the most wonderful time of year: Halloween season! No better time than now to dive into the history behind America's most morbid holiday; how it started, where certain traditions like trick-or-treating come from, and how Halloween has evolved and popularized into more than just a commercial candy and costume fest. (This is a re-release of an episode originally released on October 4, 2022.) Leave us a review -- it helps the show! :) Follow Us ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠30MorbidMinutes⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Elyse Willems⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Jessica Vasami⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Music by ⁠Casey Edwards Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Oct 13, 2025 · 34 min
More Cursed Objects: The Tallman Bunk Beds
In the 1987 the Tallman Family of Horicon, Wisconsin were driven from their home by paranormal activity caused by an unexpectedly haunted artifact: bunk beds. Leave us a review -- it helps the show! :) Follow Us ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠30MorbidMinutes⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Elyse Willems⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Jessica Vasami⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Music by ⁠Casey Edwards Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Oct 6, 2025 · 31 min
From the Crypt: The Real Life Dr. Frankenstein
Examining the real life mad doctors and their galvanic experiments that inspired one of literature's most famous monsters. (This episode was originally released October 10, 2023.) Leave us a review -- it helps the show! :) Follow Us ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠30MorbidMinutes⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Elyse Willems⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Jessica Vasami⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Music by ⁠Casey Edwards Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Sep 22, 2025 · 34 min
"What's it like to die NINE times?" - Q&A
Reddit user Generic Box was 20-years-old when they had their first out-of-hospital sudden cardiac arrest -- meaning, their heart just suddenly stopped beating. After being diagnosed with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, eight more sudden cardiac arrests and "deaths" happened to them. In this episode, we dive into their Reddit AMA and get to the heart of what it's like to cheat death and their various near death experiences. Leave us a review -- it helps the show! :) Follow Us ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠30MorbidMinutes⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Elyse Willems⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Jessica Vasami⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Music by ⁠Casey Edwards Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Sep 8, 2025 · 37 min
America's Most Isolated Family: The Whittakers
Who are the Whittakers, and why has the world become so fascinated with them and their isolated West Virginia way of life? We take a look at their insular family tree, and the genetic fallout that can occur with inbreeding. Leave us a review -- it helps the show! :) Follow Us ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠30MorbidMinutes⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Elyse Willems⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Jessica Vasami⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Music by Casey Edwards Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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