Timesuck with Dan Cummins
True Crime & Paranormal
About
Jump down new rabbit holes with Timesuck, the weekly podcast that takes you on a fascinating and bizarre journey through history’s darkest corners, most shocking conspiracies, and wildest true stories. Hosted by acclaimed standup comedian and storyteller Dan Cummins, each episode blends dark humor with deep research to uncover hidden truths about infamous historical figures, unsolved mysteries, notorious serial killers, and more. If you crave the weird, the wild, and the unexpected, Timesuck is your next obsession! And check out the Short Sucks, a new series of 40-60 minute episodes two Fridays a month. These bite-sized stories are perfect fo...
Episodes
- Short Suck #57: Return to the Land: The Ravenden Experiment
This episode discusses "Return to the Land," a project by white nationalists in the Ozarks aiming to create a segregationist community. It explores the implications of their efforts to establish a new Sundown town.
- 505 - Drowned by the Horizon: Japan’s 2011 Tsunami Nightmare
This episode of Timesuck with Dan Cummins discusses the 2011 earthquake and tsunami in Japan, detailing the powerful natural disaster and its far-reaching consequences.
- 504 - Blizzard of Lies: The Karen Read Murder Trials
This episode of Timesuck with Dan Cummins discusses the Karen Read murder trials, focusing on the mysterious death of John O’Keefe. It examines the various accusations and claims of a police cover-up surrounding the case.
- Short Suck #56: Triple Axel, Triple Chaos: The Rise and Fall of Tonya Harding
This episode covers Tonya Harding's journey from a historic figure skating achievement to a central figure in a notorious crime. It delves into her upbringing, relationships, and the plot that led to her tabloid infamy.
- 503 - Lemurians, Lizard People, and Lies: Ramtha’s School Exposed
This episode of Timesuck with Dan Cummins discusses the story of JZ Knight, Ramtha, and the New Age empire based in Yelm, Washington. It explores the background of the school, which claims to be guided by a 35,000-year-old warrior from Atl…
- 502 - Help Me Before I Kill: The Chilling Story of Eddie Cole
This episode of Timesuck with Dan Cummins discusses the true crime case of Eddie Cole, a killer who expressed his violent urges to others but was not stopped. The discussion focuses on the frustrating aspects of his story and repeated rele…
- Short Suck #55: Stolen History: The British Museum Debate
This episode discusses the British Museum and its collection of eight million artifacts. It explores the controversial legacy of empire and conquest related to its holdings, raising questions about the true ownership of history.
- 501 - The Ant Hill Kids: Most Brutal Cult Ever?
This episode of Timesuck with Dan Cummins discusses the Ant Hill Kids, a group led by Roch Thériault, and how it evolved from promises of healing to a disturbing cult. The episode examines how belief and isolation contributed to the group'…
- 500 - Blowing Through the Mushroom Murders
This episode of Timesuck with Dan Cummins covers the 2023 Leongatha, Australia Mushroom Murders. The episode details the event where four family members became violently ill after consuming a meal containing death cap mushrooms.
- Short Suck #54: Lip, Dip, and Die! The Radium Girls
This episode explores the true story of the Radium Girls, young women who suffered from radium poisoning due to their work with radioactive dial paint and the subsequent legal battle. The incident became a significant workplace poisoning s…
- 499 - The Cosmic Teacher: Rudolf Steiner and the Occult Roots of Waldorf Schools
This episode discusses Rudolf Steiner, the founder of the Waldorf education movement. It covers his philosophy centered on creativity, imagination, and holistic learning, as well as his claims of clairvoyant insight into Atlantis, reincarn…
- 498 - Mr. Cruel
This episode of Timesuck with Dan Cummins examines the unsolved crimes of "Mr. Cruel," a predator in Melbourne, Australia. The discussion delves into the enduring mystery surrounding Karmein Chan's murder and questions whether the perpetra…
- Short Suck #53: Icaria!: France’s Failed Communist Utopia in America
This episode discusses Étienne Cabet's attempt to establish a communist utopia called Icaria in 19th-century America. It covers the challenges and historical context of this social movement.
- 497 - The Real Lawrence of Arabia
This episode of Timesuck with Dan Cummins explores the life of Lawrence of Arabia, focusing on his involvement in World War I and his influence on the collapse of the Ottoman Empire. The discussion covers his raids, political strategies, a…
- 496 - Sex Strike Nation: The Rise of South Korea’s 4B Movement
This episode of Timesuck explores the 4B Movement, a radical feminist movement from South Korea with four rules: no sex, dating, marriage, or children with men. It discusses the movement's formation, its resonance, and its spread.
- Short Suck #52: Protected Predator: The Johnson City Scandal
This episode of Timesuck with Dan Cummins investigates the Johnson City Scandal, focusing on a serial predator who drugs women and repeatedly evades accountability. It examines allegations of corruption, institutional failure, and a justic…
- 495 - The Watts Family Murders
This episode of Timesuck with Dan Cummins delves into the Chris Watts case, examining the details surrounding the disappearance of his wife and two children. The discussion includes the widespread public assumptions and the eventual implos…
- 494 - Nothing Is Over! Ned Kelly and the Most Insane Shootout in Australian History
This episode of Timesuck with Dan Cummins delves into the brutal and myth-soaked life of Ned Kelly, an Australian bushranger. It covers his conflict with the police and the historic armored shootout.
- Short Suck #51: Greatest Slave Rebellion in History: The Haitian Revolution
This episode covers the Haitian Revolution, focusing on the successful rebellion of enslaved people in Saint-Domingue and their fight against France, Spain, and Britain to establish Haiti. The discussion highlights the brutality, strategic…
- 493 - The Gloriavale Cult: Hell Disguised as Heaven
This episode of Timesuck with Dan Cummins explores the Gloriavale Cult in New Zealand, founded by Neville Cooper. The episode details how the commune evolved from a utopian Christian ideal into a community characterized by strict control a…
- 492 - The Moors Murders
This episode of Timesuck with Dan Cummins examines the Moors Murders, a notorious crime spree in British history involving Ian Brady and Myra Hindley. It explores the psychology and partnership behind their disturbing actions of abducting,…
- 491 - The Good, the Bad, and Corporate Greed: American Healthcare Explained
This episode of Timesuck with Dan Cummins examines the American healthcare system, its high costs, and its complexities. Dan Cummins compares the US model to healthcare systems in other countries.
- Short Suck #50: Presumed Guilty: The Duke Lacrosse Scandal
This episode of Timesuck with Dan Cummins revisits the 2006 Duke Lacrosse scandal. It examines how media narratives and a rush to judgment led to a miscarriage of justice when the initial "facts" started falling apart.
- 490 - How to Fail at Murder (and Life): The Jennifer Pan Story
This episode of Timesuck with Dan Cummins delves into the true-crime story of Jennifer Pan. It uncovers the deception that led to a home-invasion murder plot, stemming from crushing expectations and fear of failure.
- 489 - Taken from Her Bed: The Elizabeth Smart Abduction
This episode of Timesuck with Dan Cummins discusses the 2002 abduction of Elizabeth Smart. It details the nine-month period of her captivity and the psychological abuse she suffered.
- Short Suck #49: The Milk Wars: When People Died for Dairy
This episode of Timesuck with Dan Cummins discusses the Milk Wars of the 1930s, a period when battles over milk led to violence and conflict. It explores how milk's importance during the Great Depression contributed to these events.
- 488 - The Phantom Killer and the Texarkana Moonlight Murders
This episode of Timesuck with Dan Cummins discusses the true story of the Phantom Killer and the Texarkana Moonlight Murders from 1946, including the crimes and the subsequent investigation.
- 487 - Chris Gardner & the Pursuit of Happyness
This episode of Timesuck with Dan Cummins features the inspiring true story of Chris Gardner. He overcame numerous hardships, including poverty and homelessness, to become a successful stockbroker and philanthropist. The episode reflects o…
- Short Suck #48: The Barkley Marathons: The Race That Eats Its Young
This episode of Timesuck with Dan Cummins, titled "Short Suck #48: The Barkley Marathons: The Race That Eats Its Young," discusses the Barkley Marathons. The episode explores the nearly-impossible 100-mile ultramarathon and its designer, L…
- 486 - Vigilante Justice: What Could Possibly Go Wrong? (A Lot)
This episode of Timesuck with Dan Cummins discusses vigilante justice. It examines instances where individuals take the law into their own hands, exploring both the motivations and the often dangerous outcomes of such actions.
- 485 - The Family: Australia's Most Notorious Cult
This episode of Timesuck with Dan Cummins explores Anne Hamilton-Byrne and The Family, a notorious Australian cult active in the 1960s and '70s. The episode details the cult's practices, including New Age mysticism and the isolation and ab…
- Short Suck #47: The Business Plot - When Bankers Tried to Topple the White House
This episode covers the alleged 1930s "Business Plot," wherein powerful bankers supposedly attempted to orchestrate a fascist coup against President Franklin D. Roosevelt. It examines the recruitment of Marine Smedley Butler and the histor…
- 484 - The King of Beaver Island
This episode of Timesuck with Dan Cummins tells the story of James Strang, a con artist who claimed to be Joseph Smith's heir and established a community on Beaver Island where he was crowned king. The episode explores the historical accou…
- 483 - Addiction: Most Misunderstood Condition Ever?
This episode of Timesuck with Dan Cummins discusses addiction, exploring its history, cultural interpretations, and the scientific understanding of its impact on the brain and identity. It examines how desire can become dependency and the…
- Short Suck #46: Mutiny on the Bounty!
This episode of Timesuck with Dan Cummins revisits the 1789 Mutiny on the Bounty, focusing on the character dynamics and decisions that instigated the event. It examines the historical context beyond the commonly known narrative.
- 482 - The Hunger Killer: Inside the World of the Starvation Doctor
This episode of Timesuck with Dan Cummins details the story of Linda Hazzard, a self-proclaimed "fasting specialist" who ran a sanitarium and subjected patients to starvation. Her brutal regimen led to many victims at her facility, known a…
- 481 - Go Ask Alice: When a Fake Diary Helped Launch a Real War on Drugs
This episode of Timesuck with Dan Cummins examines the book "Go Ask Alice," marketed as a true story but later revealed to be fiction. It delves into how the book contributed to a cultural panic that helped justify the War on Drugs.
- Short Suck #45: The Great Molasses Flood
This episode recounts the 1919 Great Molasses Flood in Boston, where a ruptured tank caused significant damage and casualties. It covers the disaster, its aftermath, and its impact on U.S. engineering standards.
- 480 - Old Blood and Guts: The Life and War of General Patton
This episode of Timesuck with Dan Cummins discusses General George S. Patton, covering his military leadership, his personality, and his impact on U.S. military history. Topics include his battlefield strategies and his controversial behav…
- 479 - Rumble, Meatsack, Rumble! The Story of Muhammad Ali
This episode of Timesuck with Dan Cummins delves into the life of Muhammad Ali, from his boxing career and global fame to his battles against social issues and personal struggles. It covers his journey as "The Greatest" in and out of the r…
- Nightmare Fuel 37: Dissonance (2 of 2)
This episode concludes "Nightmare Fuel 37: Dissonance," a fictional horror story. The narrative focuses on Duncan Briggs and the escalating events following his involvement with AR Innovations.
- Nightmare Fuel 36: Dissonance (1 of 2)
This episode of Timesuck with Dan Cummins features "Nightmare Fuel 36: Dissonance (1 of 2)." A character named Duncan Briggs participates in a scientific study, and the situation becomes increasingly strange. The episode is scored by Logan…
- Nightmare Fuel 30: Operation Wandering Soul
This episode of Timesuck with Dan Cummins, titled "Nightmare Fuel 30: Operation Wandering Soul," discusses PsyWar Detachment Six's black operations in Vietnam's Annamese mountains during January 1968, focusing on efforts to terrify the Vie…
- Nightmare Fuel 31: The House of Hurt
In this episode of Nightmare Fuel from Timesuck with Dan Cummins, Gabe and Hassan encounter a strange house on Woodhull Mountain. Gabe enters the house and experiences a dark and mysterious space dedicated to pain. Logan Keith scored the e…
- Nightmare Fuel 28: He'll Make You Whole
This episode features "Nightmare Fuel 28: He'll Make You Whole," a fictional story by Dan Cummins. It is set in 1989 and involves a pawn shop owner finding disturbing home video footage.
- 478 - The Hog Trail Killer
This episode of Timesuck with Dan Cummins investigates Daniel Owen Conahan Jr., dubbed “The Hog Trail Killer,” who was responsible for a string of murders in southwest Florida. The episode explores the possibility of his connection to addi…
- Short Suck #44: The Victorian Monster of Spring-Heeled Jack
This episode of Timesuck with Dan Cummins explores the Victorian legend of Spring-Heeled Jack, tracing the 1838 panic, hoaxes, aristocratic "bets," and mass hysteria. It examines what Jack revealed about a rapidly modernizing empire’s fear…
- 477 - The Ogress of Reading and the Horrors of Baby Farming
This episode of Timesuck with Dan Cummins discusses the practice of "baby farming" in Victorian England and the notorious serial killer Amelia Dyer, known as "The Ogress of Reading." It examines the social context of the time and the exten…
- 476 - The Backpacker Killer: Ivan Milat
This episode of Timesuck with Dan Cummins covers the case of Ivan Milat, known as the "Backpacker Murderer." It details his crimes against backpackers in the Australian bush and his eventual capture.
- Short Suck #43: Crescent Hotel Horrors: From Healing Springs to... Hauntings?
This episode of Timesuck with Dan Cummins, Short Suck #43, delves into the history of the Crescent Hotel. It covers its transformation from a spa retreat to a site known for fraud, tragedy, and hauntings, earning it the reputation of Ameri…