This Is A Disaster

A podcast about disasters and the music they make us listen to.

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111 episodes
Updated Nov 12, 2025
Explicit

Episodes111

Newest first

Apr 7, 2021 · 1 hr 26 min
Episode 45: Apollo 13
By 1970, flying to the moon was boooooooring... at least, if you asked the People of Earth. Nothing like a spot of near-death to revive public interest! Dropped oxygen tanks, explosions in space, floating pee bags, and Jerry... fuckin' Jerry... Peter's song pick:: Go! by Public Service Broadcasting https://open.spotify.com/track/5xYZXIgVAND5sWjN8G0hID?si=0ccf9d33e5314bd5 Leigh's song pick:: We Took The Wrong Step Year Ago by Hawkwind https://open.spotify.com/track/33pv5efEwueISKYakOifMb?si=84027c91b97b4580 If you like what you hear, please subscribe and leave a review! Also, tell your friends! Tell your enemies too, we're not picky. Become a patron, get exclusive content, help us make more disasters! www.patreon.com/thisdisasterpod SHIRTS! Pre-order for the next run is open now until June 30th! Visit https://shop.thisdisasterpod.com and backorder your shirt!! Instagram/Twitter/Facebook: @thisdisasterpod www.thisdisasterpod.com Very special thanks to Craig Baird of Canadian History Ehx for helping with the research for this episode. Theme song by Blank Sun: https://blanksun.bandcamp.com
Dec 29, 2020 · 52 min
Episode 44.5: [Tragedy Tuesday] TIDAL
As a follow-up to his Tragedy Tuesday about the Pono Player, Leigh brings us up to speed on TIDAL, the "audiophile" streaming service. Less disaster, more questionable money grab? Also, a round-up of our favorite albums and songs of 2020 to round out the year before heading into our hiatus! Leigh's song pick:: When I Was Small by Jesu https://open.spotify.com/track/2bdzxPEpVY7SPV0ofszd44 Peter's song pick:: Regurginated Communion by Of Feather And Bone https://offeatherandbone666.bandcamp.com/track/regurginated-communion Try-All Andy's song pick:: Cue Synthesizer by Destroyer https://open.spotify.com/track/4yjtPnUdMlhZiBPNtZmQ8Q Nuclear Norm's song pick:: Trust Me by Sincere Engineer https://open.spotify.com/track/72rJBBioVhxm4A3XajM3Yn If you like what you hear, please subscribe and leave a review! Tell your friends! Tell your enemies too, we're not picky. Become a patron, get cool stuff, and help us make some exciting new content! www.patreon.com/thisdisasterpod Instagram/Twitter/Facebook: @thisdisasterpod www.thisdisasterpod.com
Dec 23, 2020 · 10 min
[Announcement] End of the First Era
Peter and Leigh announce the end of the first phase of this disaster and our triumphant return in April 2021! A temporary pause in our regular weekly releases, some teasers of what's to come, and our sincerest thanks. We'll see you all on April 7, 2021 (and for a disaster or two before then)... If you like what you hear, please subscribe and leave a review! Tell your friends! Tell your enemies too, we're not picky. Become a patron, get cool stuff, and help us make some exciting new content! www.patreon.com/thisdisasterpod Instagram/Twitter/Facebook: @thisdisasterpod www.thisdisasterpod.com
Dec 15, 2020 · 50 min
Episode 43.5: [Tragedy Tuesday] The Curious Case of Adolphe Sax and his Saxophone
If the history of the saxophone's invention had a soundtrack, it certainly wouldn't be smooth jazz. An inventor that just wouldn't quit, despite the world doing its best to stop him in his tracks. Blunt force trauma, poisoning, drowning, viciously jealous rivals, and a giant cannon. The Cornu: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1IlZgj2FAHA&ab_channel=AbrahamCupeiro The Shofar: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DJwfsYxDgJ4&ab_channel=Word-Spirit-Life The Pentatonic Scale: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ne6tB2KiZuk&ab_channel=WorldScienceFestival Peter's song pick:: Hell by Clown Core https://open.spotify.com/track/3iNJUrTTqODoKapRzameCI If you like what you hear, please subscribe and leave a review! Tell your friends! Tell your enemies too, we're not picky. Become a patron, get cool stuff, and help us make some exciting new content! www.patreon.com/thisdisasterpod Instagram/Twitter/Facebook: @thisdisasterpod www.thisdisasterpod.com
Dec 9, 2020 · 49 min
Episode 43: [Album Autopsy] Garth Brooks in... The Life of Chris Gaines
In this edition of Album Autopsy, Try-All Andy joins us as we are collectively baffled by a supposed radical departure in musical genres. An album not reviled, but hardly beloved... what happens when an artist endeavors to try something different, but doesn't quite make it off the beaten path? If you like what you hear, please subscribe and leave a review! Tell your friends! Tell your enemies too, we're not picky. CHRISTMAS CARDS! Send someone some charred love and existential dread this holiday season. https://thisdisasterpod.com/shop/product/disastrous-christmas-card/ Become a patron, get cool stuff, and help us make some exciting new content! www.patreon.com/thisdisasterpod Instagram/Twitter/Facebook: @thisdisasterpod www.thisdisasterpod.com
Dec 1, 2020 · 43 min
Episode 42.5: [Tragedy Tuesday] The Pono Player
What do you get when you go on a quest for high-fidelity portable audio, but forget to bring the design sensibilities? Neil Young's Toblerone Player... I mean, Pono Player. Is that triangular prism in your pocket, or are you just pretending to hear the difference? FLAC, MP3, too much money, too little product. Leigh's song pick:: Piece of Crap by Neil Young https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ovum-GjYWKQ&ab_channel=neilyoungchannel If you like what you hear, please subscribe and leave a review! Tell your friends! Tell your enemies too, we're not picky. Become a patron, get cool stuff, and help us make some exciting new content! www.patreon.com/thisdisasterpod Instagram/Twitter/Facebook: @thisdisasterpod www.thisdisasterpod.com
Nov 25, 2020 · 1 hr 6 min
Episode 42: The Laki Eruption
In the late 18th century, the Netherlands really had it out for Iceland. Maybe it was all the red-hot magma, acid rain, and sulfur-filled air, courtesy of the Laki craters? Fire, brimstone, a Dutch hate-boner, and a fire priest. John's song pick:: Mars by Gustav Holst https://open.spotify.com/track/6azDDykaIBHmZQFEFTKycC Peter's song pick:: Burning Worlds of Excrement by Svartidaudi https://open.spotify.com/track/2t4UAANtwLlx2Ghs2mAI0q Leigh's song pick:: Sudden Death by Mr. Bungle https://open.spotify.com/track/6VRu6EN2lRBQiXxEy5rU8Z If you like what you hear, please subscribe and leave a review! Also, tell your friends! Tell your enemies too, we're not picky. Become a patron, get exclusive content, help us make more disasters! www.patreon.com/thisdisasterpod Instagram/Twitter/Facebook: @thisdisasterpod www.thisdisasterpod.com Theme song by Blank Sun: https://blanksun.bandcamp.com
Nov 17, 2020 · 36 min
Episode 41.5: [Tragedy Tuesday] The Third Wave Experiment
Why teach a class about 1930s German's descent into fascism when you can just show the whole school how it's done? Not-so-secret salutes, rigorous discipline, a nation-wide underground, and a magnificent leader... Peter's song pick:: Neuropunk Boostergang by Expander https://expander.bandcamp.com/track/neuropunk-boostergang If you like what you hear, please subscribe and leave a review! Tell your friends! Tell your enemies too, we're not picky. Become a patron, get cool stuff, and help us make some exciting new content! www.patreon.com/thisdisasterpod Instagram/Twitter/Facebook: @thisdisasterpod www.thisdisasterpod.com
Nov 11, 2020 · 43 min
Episode 41: [Album Autopsy] Lulu
Leaning into "... and the music they make us listen to" from our tagline, Leigh and Peter discuss where universally panned albums went wrong. In this inaugural edition, we talk about what happens when you seemingly pull two artists out of a hat and mash them together. "I am the table". Lou Reed, Metallica, and Lulu. Listen to the album: https://open.spotify.com/album/3FgLMfp5o2h2rAny7S6h57?si=hYeornR8SK2oztB6fLezzw If you like what you hear, please subscribe and leave a review! Tell your friends! Tell your enemies too, we're not picky. Become a patron, get cool stuff, and help us make some exciting new content! www.patreon.com/thisdisasterpod Instagram/Twitter/Facebook: @thisdisasterpod www.thisdisasterpod.com
Nov 3, 2020 · 41 min
Episode 40.5: [Tragedy Tuesday] The Station Nightclub Fire
In a time after hair metal was king, Great White were still carrying the flame... unfortunately, it was right into a venue filled with highly flammable material and no sprinkler system. Made up words, pyrotechnics, heavy black smoke, and a reason to never go to a live show again... Leigh's song pick:: You Fucked Up by Ween https://open.spotify.com/track/0gnvI2vSWIacE3hgLbuWtn If you like what you hear, please subscribe and leave a review! Tell your friends! Tell your enemies too, we're not picky. Become a patron, get cool stuff, and help us make some exciting new content! www.patreon.com/thisdisasterpod Instagram/Twitter/Facebook: @thisdisasterpod www.thisdisasterpod.com
Oct 28, 2020 · 38 min
Episode 40: [Ruinous Rewind] Plague of Athens
A new feature is born! With our shift to one major disaster a month (in addition to regularly scheduled Tragedy Tuesdays), we'll be trying out new features to take the place of the second major disaster. Don't think of it as losing a disaster, so much as gaining new content. This time: Ruinous Rewind with Peter and Gerri. Can Peter retell the Plague of Athens in 10 minutes? Will Gerri have new insights into a familiar tale since she, like, totally "listens" to the show? Only time, and you listening to this episode will tell! If you like what you hear, please subscribe and leave a review! Tell your friends! Tell your enemies too, we're not picky. Become a patron, get cool stuff, and help us make some exciting new content! www.patreon.com/thisdisasterpod Instagram/Twitter/Facebook: @thisdisasterpod www.thisdisasterpod.com Theme song by Blank Sun: https://blanksun.bandcamp.com
Oct 20, 2020 · 49 min
Episode 39.5: [Tragedy Tuesday] Norwegian Black Metal
For a music scene that generated such awesome bands, the Norwegian black metal community sure were a bunch of miscreants. Church burning, stabbing, blast beats, stabbing, the dark circle, and stabbing. Leigh's song pick:: Kathaarian Life Code by Darkthrone https://open.spotify.com/track/5gTMAY6YiojUKbOjhO1JeJ If you like what you hear, please subscribe and leave a review! Tell your friends! Tell your enemies too, we're not picky. Become a patron, get cool stuff, and help us make some exciting new content! www.patreon.com/thisdisasterpod Instagram/Twitter/Facebook: @thisdisasterpod www.thisdisasterpod.com
Oct 14, 2020 · 1 hr 12 min
Episode 39: The Peshtigo Firestorm
The Great Chicago Fire wasn't the worst fire ever to hit the United States. It wasn't the worst fire in 1871. It wasn't even the worst fire in October of 1871... The second episode in our October of Sorrow features one of the gnarliest fires yet, and maybe even a "darkbar". Human torches, flaming logs, and hell on Earth. Peter's song pick:: Chronicles of Annihilation by Our Place Of Worship Is Silence https://opowistl.bandcamp.com/track/chronicles-of-annihilation Leigh's song pick:: Hell by King Gizzard and the Lizzard Wizzard https://open.spotify.com/track/6XY6yBdqrphxj92fRmeT9C If you like what you hear, please subscribe and leave a review! Also, tell your friends! Tell your enemies too, we're not picky. Become a patron, get exclusive content, help us make more disasters! www.patreon.com/thisdisasterpod SHIRTS! Pre-order for the next run is open now until October 16th! Visit https://shop.thisdisasterpod.com and backorder your shirt!! Instagram/Twitter/Facebook: @thisdisasterpod www.thisdisasterpod.com Theme song by Blank Sun: https://blanksun.bandcamp.com
Oct 6, 2020 · 38 min
Episode 38.5: [Tragedy Tuesday] The Witchcraft Trial of Sarah Good
Things got a bit hairy in Salem in 1692... let's just say it wasn't a good time to be feeding urine cakes to dogs and cracking eggs into Venus glasses. Oomancy, divination, possession, the 17th-century legal system, and a dark prophecy... Peter's song pick:: Arcanae Manifestia by Aevangelist https://open.spotify.com/track/1GzGkAytLKlLgh9g3GleKX?si=g92ywjMBS0-sFGQ2rK05iw SHIRTS! Pre-order for the next run is open now until October 16th! Visit https://shop.thisdisasterpod.com and backorder your shirt!! If you like what you hear, please subscribe and leave a review! Tell your friends! Tell your enemies too, we're not picky. Become a patron, get cool stuff, and help us make some exciting new content! www.patreon.com/thisdisasterpod Instagram/Twitter/Facebook: @thisdisasterpod www.thisdisasterpod.com
Sep 30, 2020 · 59 min
Episode 38: Darby Crash
In the late 1970s, two friends got straight-As in fruit-eating and crystal meth. Luckily for the trajectory of punk rock, they turned their talents to music, gave up their real names for punk alter egos, and began wreaking havoc on stages across Los Angeles. Cast your mind back to a time when The Germs weren't just responsible for a global pandemic... Leigh's song pick:: Lexicon Devil by The Germs https://open.spotify.com/track/0Hl2Vuhhhh8buesoxUk1DW Peter's song pick:: TV Party by Black Flag https://open.spotify.com/track/4DA95pyBe6QORPGvTEuMWQ If you like what you hear, please subscribe and leave a review! Also, tell your friends! Tell your enemies too, we're not picky. Become a patron, get exclusive content, help us make more disasters! www.patreon.com/thisdisasterpod SHIRTS! Pre-order for the next run is open now until October 16th! Visit https://shop.thisdisasterpod.com and backorder your shirt!! Instagram/Twitter/Facebook: @thisdisasterpod www.thisdisasterpod.com Theme song by Blank Sun: https://blanksun.bandcamp.com
Sep 22, 2020 · 43 min
Episode 37.5: [Tragedy Tuesday] Jim Shooter's New Universe
When the going gets good, Marvel got weird. Forget Iron Man and Thor, it's time for Nightmask and Star Brand! Sorry, you've never heard of them? Maybe sticking to what works is the best way after all. Come take a ride into Jim Shooter's mind as he steered the Marvel ship into some really strange places... Leigh's song pick:: Tarred and Feathered by Cardiacs https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NVjSycDJatc&ab_channel=loudlikenature SHIRTS! Pre-order for the next run is open now until October 16th! Visit https://shop.thisdisasterpod.com and backorder your shirt!! If you like what you hear, please subscribe and leave a review! Tell your friends! Tell your enemies too, we're not picky. Become a patron, get cool stuff, and help us make some exciting new content! www.patreon.com/thisdisasterpod Instagram/Twitter/Facebook: @thisdisasterpod www.thisdisasterpod.com
Sep 16, 2020 · 56 min
Episode 37: The Great Tangshan Earthquake
In the time it takes you to read this, the city of Tangshan shook apart in 1976. Peter tells Leigh about one of the most devastating of Earth's ancient disasters, with a truly staggering death toll. Earthquakes, seismology, Richter, and toeing the party line... Leigh's song pick:: Auf Wiedersehen by Cheap Trick https://open.spotify.com/track/4lGF1MDPkeWbOSROAxXTFS Peter's song pick:: Tarpit Carnivore by Torche https://open.spotify.com/track/3kw1aKvgU4HE3dVMHeUmxn If you like what you hear, please subscribe and leave a review! Also, tell your friends! Tell your enemies too, we're not picky. Become a patron, get exclusive content, help us make more disasters! www.patreon.com/thisdisasterpod SHIRTS! Pre-order for the next run is open now until October 16th! Visit https://shop.thisdisasterpod.com and backorder your shirt!! Instagram/Twitter/Facebook: @thisdisasterpod www.thisdisasterpod.com Theme song by Blank Sun: https://blanksun.bandcamp.com
Sep 8, 2020 · 40 min
Episode 36.5: [Tragedy Tuesday] British Airtours Flight 28M
It usually takes a disaster to change regulations... case in point British Airtours Flight 28M and the Boeing 737. Ultra-narrow aisles? Armrests that don't raise up? Seats in front of the emergency exits? Yup, this all seems fine. An inferno, design flaws, and Terminator is better than Robocop. Peter's song pick:: Ohms by Deftones https://open.spotify.com/track/6mfrK1kvsOjiiH64Ier962 Britney Spears - Toxic But It's Change (In the House of Flies) by Deftones https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=13wwndvI1K4&ab_channel=WilliamMaranci SHIRTS! Pre-order for the next run is open now until October 16th! Visit https://shop.thisdisasterpod.com and backorder your shirt!! If you like what you hear, please subscribe and leave a review! Tell your friends! Tell your enemies too, we're not picky. Become a patron, get cool stuff, and help us make some exciting new content! www.patreon.com/thisdisasterpod Instagram/Twitter/Facebook: @thisdisasterpod www.thisdisasterpod.com
Sep 4, 2020 · 4 min
[Announcement] Contest One Winner!
What? An episode on a Friday?? We come to you to talk Skittles and announce the winner of our first-ever draw! Our sincerest thanks to everyone that participated, and we'll do more soon. If you like what you hear, please subscribe and leave a review! Also, tell your friends! Tell your enemies too, we're not picky. Become a patron, get exclusive content, help us make more disasters! www.patreon.com/thisdisasterpod SHIRTS! Pre-order for the next run is open now until October 16th! Visit https://shop.thisdisasterpod.com and backorder your shirt!! Instagram/Twitter/Facebook: @thisdisasterpod www.thisdisasterpod.com Theme song by Blank Sun: https://blanksun.bandcamp.com
Sep 2, 2020 · 57 min
Episode 36: Climate Change, Part 2
Nuclear Norm comes back to finish what he started, this time telling us about why some people distrust science, and why they might never change their mind. Petitions, angry fictitious coal miners, reverse-cherry-picking data, and a whole lot of climate denial. Norm's song pick:: The American Dream by Walls of Jericho https://open.spotify.com/track/2H2gDrojHBPjq9sucp94rs Leigh's song pick:: Greenhouse Effect by Testament https://open.spotify.com/track/1vTUW5hxptfEp83z1Pl1O2 Peter's song pick:: Baba Yetu by Christopher Tin https://open.spotify.com/track/5fYwf17qytSuyFEnBpsq5W If you like what you hear, please subscribe and leave a review! Also, tell your friends! Tell your enemies too, we're not picky. Become a patron, get exclusive content, help us make more disasters! www.patreon.com/thisdisasterpod SHIRTS! Pre-order for the next run is open now until October 16th! Visit https://shop.thisdisasterpod.com and backorder your shirt!! Instagram/Twitter/Facebook: @thisdisasterpod www.thisdisasterpod.com Theme song by Blank Sun: https://blanksun.bandcamp.com