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The Grim Curriculum

Dina Valentine and Charlotte Smelt

Welcome to The Grim Curriculum, a Canada based podcast, with hosts Charlotte and Dina.
Join us as we chat about True Crime, Cryptids, Historic Events, and a whole lot more.
If it’s macabre and nightmarish, we want to discuss it. Join us every Saturday for a new episode.

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Episodes 23

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September 10 · 48 min
The Lindsay Clancy Trial - So Far: Part 2
This week, we're continuing our look at the Lindsay Clancy case in Part 2 of our special mix of The Grim Curriculum and Extra Credit. We take a closer look at the testimony, expert opinions, and competing arguments surrounding Lindsay's mental state and the question of criminal responsibility. We break down some of the major developments from the final weeks of the trial, while keeping speculation separate from what was actually presented in court. Whether you've been following along since Part 1 or are just catching up, we'll get you up to speed on where the case stands and some of the questions that remain. The Grim Curriculum: https://thegrimcurriculum.com
S1 · E216
September 5 · 40 min
Robert Pickton - Part 3
In Part 3 of our series on Robert Pickton, we continue putting the focus where it belongs, on the women whose lives were taken, and the stories that so often became overshadowed by the man responsible. As we learn more about the victims, we also reach a pivotal moment in Pickton's story. One woman came remarkably close to surviving him, and her fight to escape would come closer than anything else to bringing his horrific spree to an end. But despite her survival, the nightmare continued. We continue to piece together the stories of the women who disappeared from Vancouver's Downtown Eastside, the circumstances surrounding their disappearances, and the devastating failures that allowed Pickton to remain free for so long. If you enjoy thoughtful explorations of true crime, history, disasters, folklore, and the unexplained, consider subscribing and joining us each week for a new episode. 🌐 Website: https://www.thegrimcurriculum.com
S1 · E215
August 29 · 47 min
Robert Pickton - Part 2
We're only two episodes into our Robert Pickton series, and somehow, we've already covered A LOT. In Part 2, we're beginning to look at the women who may have been among Robert Pickton's first known or possible victims, while continuing to follow what Pickton and the increasingly shady group of people around him were getting up to. The deeper we dig, the more unsettling the story becomes, and we're still only scratching the surface. By the end of this episode, we arrive at the beginnings of what would become Piggie's Palace, the infamous property that would eventually become central to the Pickton case. And let's just say, "built" might be a generous description. As Charlotte puts it, it was less a structure being constructed and more like the Earth's crust opened up and a hellish nightmare of a bar ascended from Satan's realm. This is Part 2 of our series on Robert Pickton, and there's a whole lot more to uncover. 🌐 thegrimcurriculum.com
S1 · E214
August 22 · 1 hr 16 min
The Lindsay Clancy Trial - So Far
This week, we're bringing you a special mix of The Grim Curriculum and Extra Credit as we take a close look at the Lindsay Clancy case, the 2023 deaths of her three children in Duxbury, Massachusetts, and the trial that has raised difficult questions about mental illness, postpartum psychosis, criminal responsibility, and the limits of what we can truly know about someone else's state of mind. With weeks of testimony now on the record, we break down the background, the major questions surrounding the case, and some of the details that have drawn significant public attention, while keeping speculation clearly separate from the facts established in court. We want to hear your thoughts on this one. If you enjoy thoughtful explorations of true crime, history, disasters, folklore, and the unexplained, consider subscribing and joining us each week for a new episode. 🌐 Website: https://www.thegrimcurriculum.com
August 19 · 21 min
Convictions, Cold Cases & Questionable Decisions
This week on Extra Credit, we've got a whole collection of true crime updates, including some cases we've talked about before that have taken a few unexpected turns. We start with a particularly bizarre update involving Chris Watts, followed by another development in the ongoing case of Dr. Gerhardt Konig. Dina brings us back to the disturbing case involving 16 children found in rural Ohio, while Charlotte follows up on the nearly 30-year-old murder of Edmonton's Joanne Ghostkeeper and the long-awaited developments in her family's search for justice. And, as always, we wrap things up with a Strange & Unusual Death, one that proves there are apparently worse things than running with scissors. Everything Grim lives at thegrimcurriculum.com.
S1 · E213
August 15 · 56 min
Robert Pickton - Part 1
I thought I knew what we were recording for episode 213. I was wrong. Dina decided we're doing Robert Pickton. - Charlotte This week, we're beginning a brand new series on one of the most notorious serial killers in Canadian history. And we're starting where we usually do, long before the murders, with Robert Pickton's childhood, his (very) strange family, and the odd world he grew up in. Born into a pig-farming family in Port Coquitlam, British Columbia, Pickton spent much of his early life on the family farm alongside his siblings. As we start getting into the story of the man behind the name, we're looking at his upbringing, his relationships with his parents and siblings, and the early experiences that shaped the person he would eventually become. But fair warning, this is only the beginning. Robert Pickton's story is a difficult one, and as this series progresses, we're going to be discussing some deeply disturbing crimes and the women whose lives were tragically cut short. If you enjoy thoughtful explorations of true crime, history, disasters, folklore, and the unexplained, consider subscribing and joining us each week for a new episode. 🌐 Website: https://www.thegrimcurriculum.com
S1 · E212
August 1 · 35 min
"Black Friday" The 1987 Edmonton Tornado
On July 31, 1987, a devastating F4 tornado carved a path through Edmonton and the surrounding area, forever changing the city and the people who lived through it. Known as Black Friday, the tornado claimed 27 lives, injured hundreds more, and became one of the deadliest natural disasters in Canadian history. This week, we're looking back at the events of that devastating day, from the storm's formation to the incredible stories of survival, the heroic rescue efforts, and the lasting impact it had on emergency preparedness across Alberta and Canada. Nearly four decades later, Black Friday remains a reminder of just how powerful nature can be, and how resilient a community can become in its aftermath. If you enjoy thoughtful explorations of true crime, history, disasters, folklore, and the unexplained, consider subscribing and joining us each week for a new episode. 🌐 Website: https://www.thegrimcurriculum.com Background & Thumbnail Image By Stevesimon1 - Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=135428586
July 29 · 22 min
Extra Credit: Mimes, Mayhem & Mortality
This week on Extra Credit, Dina kicks things off with a story that sounds like it belongs in Florida... except it happened in Massachusetts. A mime has found himself facing criminal harassment charges, and trust us, this isn't the kind of performance anyone asked for. Charlotte then gives a well-deserved shoutout to Jimothy the raccoon, the internet's latest unlikely celebrity, before Dina reminds us that Florida Man is never far away with a story involving a pet store, pepper spray, and behaviour that will leave you thoroughly unimpressed. Thankfully, there's some genuinely heartwarming news to balance things out as two missing giraffe calves are found safe after being gone for nearly a year. To wrap things up, we dive into one of life's inevitable topics as we discuss our own funeral wishes, from burial or cremation to music, eulogies, and the kind of send-off we'd actually want. Finally, our Strange & Unusual Death takes us back to San Quentin Prison in the 1930s, where one condemned inmate attempted to cheat death... with spectacularly unfortunate results. Visit our brand new site: thegrimcurriculum.com for episodes, merch, and everywhere you can find us.
S1 · E211
July 25 · 27 min
The "Black" Donnelly Clan - Part 3
For years, the Donnelly family lived under the shadow of suspicion, violence, and an ever-growing reputation that divided an entire community. In the end, that reputation would end in one of the most shocking acts of vigilante violence in Canadian history. Seriously, when we picked this case to talk about, we truly weren't prepared. In the final chapter of our series on the infamous "Black" Donnellys, we examine the devastating events that brought the family's story to its brutal conclusion. As fear, resentment, and rumours reached a boiling point, five members of the Donnelly family were brutally murdered, their home was set ablaze, and a legacy was forever etched into Canadian folklore. Dear listener, do you think justice was ever truly served? And how much of the Donnellys' notorious reputation do you think was deserved, versus shaped by the stories told long after the smoke had cleared? Check out our BRAND NEW WEBSITE! ⁠grimcurriculum.com⁠
S1 · E210
July 18 · 25 min
The "Black" Donnelly Clan - Part 2
In Part Two of our series on the infamous "Black" Donnellys, tensions in Biddulph Township continue to spiral as old rivalries turn increasingly violent. With accusations flying, loyalties tested, and the Donnelly family's reputation growing more notorious by the day, it's becoming harder to separate fact from fiction. As we follow the family through another turbulent chapter, we'll uncover shocking confrontations, retaliation, and the events that pushed an already divided community even closer to the breaking point. And just when we thought we were nearing the end of their story, we realized there was still far more left to uncover. Join us as we continue exploring one of Canada's most fascinating and enduring true crime legends. Tell YOUR stories on the next episode of Grim Encounters! Email us your strange, unusual or hair-raising experience to ⁠thegrimcurriculum@gmail.com ⁠ Watch the full video episode on Patreon https://www.patreon.com/c/TheGrimCurriculum Follow us on Twitch! ⁠https://www.twitch.tv/thegrimcurriculum⁠ PUT OUR MERCH ON YOUR BODY AND IN YOUR HOME thegrimcurriculum.threadless.com ⁠ For all the other places you can support us by checking out our TGC Merch, & Social Media Links: ⁠⁠https://linktr.ee/thegrimcurriculum⁠⁠
July 17 · 32 min
EXTRA CREDIT: Survival Tips & Unbelievable Tragedies
This week on Extra Credit, we begin with heartbreaking breaking news out of rural Ohio, where four adults have been arrested after sixteen children, ranging from very young to 18 years old, were discovered living in deplorable conditions. With many questions still unanswered, we discuss what is known so far and why this is a case we'll be following closely as more information comes to light. We also cover the astonishing story of a student pilot in Argentina who was forced to land her aircraft alone after her instructor unexpectedly exited the plane mid-flight, a remarkable display of courage and composure under unimaginable circumstances. To lighten the mood, Charlotte takes a dive into decades-old U.S. Army survival manuals and some of the wonderfully bizarre advice they once gave, from eating bugs to some eyebrow-raising medical "remedies." Finally, our Strange & Unusual Death takes us back to Yorkshire for one of the most unbelievable freak accidents we've come across, proving once again that truth really is stranger than fiction. Wanna see us do some ghost hunting? Check out our Ko-fi to help us get there! https://ko-fi.com/thegrimcurriculum Come hang out with us on YouTube on Saturdays at 12pm (mst)! https://www.youtube.com/@TheGrimCurriculum/videos Extra Credit Every Second Wednesday at at 12pm (mst)! https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL_u7l4tepCoX4zW6PW05-Oyo703LL7wx5&si=sUvQwGsOJNFIymEL Watch the video episode on Patreon https://www.patreon.com/c/TheGrimCurriculum
S1 · E209
July 11 · 36 min
The "Black" Donnelly Clan - Part 1
This week, we're diving into the unbelievable story of the "Black" Donnellys, an Irish-Canadian family whose name became synonymous with feuds, revenge, and violence. What begins as the story of immigrants trying to carve out a life in rural Ontario quickly spirals into decades of bitter rivalries, courtroom battles, and shocking acts of brutality. In Part One, we explore the Donnellys' early years, the events that ignited a community-wide feud, and how a single family's reputation would grow into legend. As Dina quickly discovered while researching, this story was far too wild to fit into a single episode. Tell YOUR stories on the next episode of Grim Encounters! Email us your strange, unusual or hair-raising experience to ⁠thegrimcurriculum@gmail.com ⁠ Watch the full video episode on Patreon https://www.patreon.com/c/TheGrimCurriculum Follow us on Twitch! ⁠https://www.twitch.tv/thegrimcurriculum⁠ ⁠ For all the other places you can support us by checking out our TGC Merch, & Social Media Links: ⁠⁠https://linktr.ee/thegrimcurriculum⁠⁠
July 4 · 33 min
Lights Over Stephenville: A Texas UFO Encounter
Grab your tinfoil hat and strap it on tight because we are heading down to Texas (figuratively speaking) to examine one of the most compelling modern UFO cases in recent memory. In January 2008, residents of Stephenville reported seeing strange lights and massive objects moving silently across the night sky. What began as a handful of eyewitness accounts quickly became a national story, drawing attention from the media, investigators, and even the military. With hundreds of witnesses, radar data, and conflicting explanations, the Stephenville Lights remain one of the most intriguing unexplained aerial phenomena of recent history. Were these sightings simply a misunderstanding, a military exercise gone awry, or evidence of something far more extraordinary? Tell YOUR stories on the next episode of Grim Encounters! Email us your strange, unusual or hair-raising experience to ⁠thegrimcurriculum@gmail.com ⁠ Watch the full video episode on Patreon https://www.patreon.com/c/TheGrimCurriculum Follow us on Twitch! ⁠https://www.twitch.tv/thegrimcurriculum⁠ PUT OUR MERCH ON YOUR BODY AND IN YOUR HOME thegrimcurriculum.threadless.com ⁠ For all the other places you can support us by checking out our TGC Merch, & Social Media Links: ⁠⁠https://linktr.ee/thegrimcurriculum⁠⁠
July 1 · 30 min
EXTRA CREDIT: Arby's, Atoms & Agony
This week on Extra Credit, we have an update on Rex Heuermann as sentencing finally arrives. Dina also brings a story that is guaranteed to leave your jaw on the floor and a shudder up your spine, along with a few others, beginning with an incident at an Oklahoma Arby's that proves truth really is stranger than fiction. Meanwhile, Charlotte heads into science corner with news that the Large Hadron Collider is shutting down, but only so scientists can make it even more powerful. We also celebrate one of science's bravest, or perhaps most questionable, heroes: the man who willingly allowed himself to be stung by insects in the name of research, creating a pain scale that scientists still use today. Finally, our Strange and Unusual Death this week is a particularly upsetting one that may have you reconsidering whether bungee jumping belongs on your vacation itinerary. Wanna see us do some ghost hunting? Check out our Ko-fi to help us get there! https://ko-fi.com/thegrimcurriculum Come hang out with us on YouTube on Saturdays at 12pm (mst)! https://www.youtube.com/@TheGrimCurriculum/videos Extra Credit Every Second Wednesday at at 12pm (mst)! https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL_u7l4tepCoX4zW6PW05-Oyo703LL7wx5&si=sUvQwGsOJNFIymEL Watch the video episode on Patreon https://www.patreon.com/c/TheGrimCurriculum
S1 · E207
June 27 · 41 min
What Happened to the Mary Celeste?
In 1872, the Mary Celeste was discovered drifting alone in the Atlantic Ocean. The ship was seaworthy, its cargo was largely untouched, and the crew's personal belongings remained on board. Yet every person aboard had vanished without a trace. More than 150 years later, the fate of Captain Benjamin Briggs, his family, and the crew remains one of history's greatest maritime mysteries. Was it piracy, mutiny, a natural disaster, or something far stranger? In this episode, we separate fact from fiction, examine the evidence left behind, and explore the many theories that continue to fascinate historians and mystery enthusiasts alike. Do you think this maritime mystery is solved or does this ghost ship still refuse to give up its secrets? Tell YOUR stories on the next episode of Grim Encounters! Email us your strange, unusual or hair-raising experience to ⁠thegrimcurriculum@gmail.com ⁠ Watch the video episode on Patreon https://www.patreon.com/c/TheGrimCurriculum Follow us on Twitch! ⁠https://www.twitch.tv/thegrimcurriculum⁠ PUT OUR MERCH ON YOUR BODY AND IN YOUR HOME thegrimcurriculum.threadless.com ⁠ For all the other places you can support us by checking out our TGC Merch, & Social Media Links: ⁠⁠https://linktr.ee/thegrimcurriculum
S1 · E206
June 21 · 38 min
The Nightstalker: Richard Ramirez - Part Six
This week on Grim Curriculum, we conclude our longest series to date with Part Six of our deep dive into Richard Ramirez, the monster known to the world as the Night Stalker. After months of terror, countless victims, the hunt for Richard Ramirez finally reaches its dramatic conclusion. The poetic justice of the community he terrorized coming together to bring his reign of terror to an end is bittersweet. In this final chapter, we follow the events leading to Ramirez's capture, the public reaction to his crimes, and the trial that would captivate the nation. This has been a difficult and harrowing series, and we want to thank our listeners for joining us through one of the most disturbing cases we've ever covered. Watch the video episode on Patreon https://www.patreon.com/c/TheGrimCurriculum Follow us on Twitch! ⁠https://www.twitch.tv/thegrimcurriculum⁠ PUT OUR MERCH ON YOUR BODY AND IN YOUR HOME thegrimcurriculum.threadless.com ⁠ For all the other places you can support us by checking out our TGC Merch, & Social Media Links: ⁠⁠https://linktr.ee/thegrimcurriculum⁠⁠
June 17 · 39 min
EXTRA CREDIT: True Crime Updates and Proof that age ain’t a thing, Even When it Comes to Breaking the Law
This week on Grim Curriculum: Extra Credit, we're checking in on a couple of familiar faces and, unsurprisingly, they're still making headlines. First, we have updates on cases we've covered previously, including Nick Reiner, who remains determined to fight for his trust fund despite finding himself in increasingly hot water. We also revisit the case of an 87-year-old man recently sentenced for his third murder, proving that some people never seem to learn. Of course, it wouldn't be Extra Credit without a trip to Florida. Dina brings us not one, but two Florida Man stories, because apparently one wasn't enough. Meanwhile, Charlotte takes us across the pond for a tale that proves law enforcement can be surprisingly creative. Wanna see us do some ghost hunting? Check out our Ko-fi to help us get there! https://ko-fi.com/thegrimcurriculum Come hang out with us on YouTube on Saturdays at 12pm (mst)! https://www.youtube.com/@TheGrimCurriculum/videos Extra Credit Every Second Wednesday at at 12pm (mst)! https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL_u7l4tepCoX4zW6PW05-Oyo703LL7wx5&si=sUvQwGsOJNFIymEL Watch the video episode on Patreon https://www.patreon.com/c/TheGrimCurriculum
S1 · E205
June 13 · 26 min
Grim Encounters 9
This week on Grim Curriculum, we're taking a brief break from our Night Stalker series for another installment of Grim Encounters. These episodes are some of our favourites because the stories come directly from you. From unexplained experiences and strange coincidences to encounters that still leave people questioning what they witnessed, today's episode is filled with tales that are eerie, intriguing, and impossible to forget. And for the first time ever, we've received a listener-submitted cryptid encounter. We could not be more excited to share it with you. Whether you're a skeptic, a believer, or somewhere in between, we invite you to settle in and hear the experiences shared by fellow listeners. Some may have logical explanations. Others are a little harder to dismiss. Tell YOUR stories on the next episode of Grim Encounters! Email us your strange, unusual or hair-raising experience to ⁠thegrimcurriculum@gmail.com ⁠ Watch the video episode on Patreon https://www.patreon.com/c/TheGrimCurriculum Follow us on Twitch! ⁠https://www.twitch.tv/thegrimcurriculum⁠
S1 · E204
June 6 · 55 min
The Nightstalker: Richard Ramirez - Part Five
The walls are starting to close in on Richard in episode 5. As Ramirez continues his reign of terror across Los Angeles, the evidence against him continues to grow, and the mistakes he leaves behind become harder and harder to ignore. Feeling the pressure from the increasing attention surrounding his crimes, Richard briefly leaves Los Angeles for what could be described as a "vacation" in San Francisco. Ramirez has no interest in stopping, even when it would be in his best interests to law low and his violence follows him wherever he goes. Despite a series of devastating setbacks that could have derailed the investigation entirely, detectives are working harder than ever to catch the Nightstalker. For all of his unpredictability and brutality, Richard Ramirez is not nearly as invisible as he believes himself to be. Investigators are beginning to connect the dots, and for the first time, they have something they desperately needed: a name. And the public now had his face. Watch the video episode on Patreon https://www.patreon.com/c/TheGrimCurriculum Follow us on Twitch! ⁠https://www.twitch.tv/thegrimcurriculum⁠ PUT OUR MERCH ON YOUR BODY AND IN YOUR HOME thegrimcurriculum.threadless.com ⁠ For all the other places you can support us by checking out our TGC Merch, & Social Media Links: ⁠⁠https://linktr.ee/thegrimcurriculum⁠⁠
June 3 · 24 min
EXTRA CREDIT: Play Stupid Games, Subvert Expectations
This week on Grim Curriculum: Extra Credit, Dina is doing most of the heavy lifting while Charlotte recovers from her trip to Vancouver (she sunburned her forehead), but don't worry, we've still got a wonderfully strange collection of stories for you. First up is a tale involving Tom Selleck... kind of. Not really. What starts out sounding amusing quickly becomes something much more tragic, serving as a reminder that scams can have devastating consequences. Next, we have a story about a dog left in a parked car. Before you jump to conclusions, this one doesn't go where you think it will. Let's just say there is some unfortunate friendly fire courtesy of man's best friend. Continuing our apparent theme of subverting expectations, we cover the theft of thousands of dollars worth of an item that most people would never expect to become the target of a major burglary. And of course, we wrap things up with this week's Strange and Unusual Death, a story so baffling and uncomfortable that you may find yourself grasping your head and not just in disbelief. Watch the video episode on Patreon https://www.patreon.com/c/TheGrimCurriculum Tell YOUR stories on the next episode of Grim Encounters! Email us your strange, unusual or hair-raising experience to ⁠thegrimcurriculum@gmail.com ⁠ For all the other places you can support us by checking out our TGC Merch, & Social Media Links: ⁠⁠https://linktr.ee/thegrimcurriculum⁠⁠ Follow us on Twitch! ⁠https://www.twitch.tv/thegrimcurriculum⁠

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