The StickyBeak

In October 1989, a brutal killing on the banks of the Brisbane River shocked Queensland.Within days, newspapers around the world were running the same chilling headline: “The Lesbian Vampire Killer.”But how did a tragic crime become a global media sensation?In this episode of The StickyBeak, Monika O’Hanlon revisits the infamous case of Tracey Wigginton and the murder of Edward Baldock —...

Crop circles have appeared overnight for decades — vast geometric patterns pressed into fields, from rural England to regional Australia. Perfect spirals. Massive fractals. Designs so precise they seem almost impossible.Are they proof of alien life? Elaborate hoaxes? Or something far more human?In this episode of The StickyBeak, Mon explores the UFO sightings, the famous Stonehenge formation that...

Isadora Duncan changed the world of dance forever.Revered as the mother of modern dance, Isadora Duncan rejected rigid ballet tradition and created a radical new style built on freedom, emotion, and natural movement. She became an international sensation — admired, criticized, and endlessly talked about.But behind the fame was a life marked by heartbreak, scandal, controversy, and profound...

The 27 Club has fascinated the world for decades.Why did icons like Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin, Jim Morrison, Kurt Cobain, Amy Winehouse and Brian Jones all die at 27? Coincidence — or something more?In this episode, we unpack the origins of the 27 Club and separate fact from folklore. From the white lighter myth to Saturn return astrology, from crossroads legends to Illuminati and ritual...

What does it mean to fall in love with an object?In this episode of The StickyBeak, we explore objectophilia — a rare and often misunderstood orientation where people form deep romantic relationships with objects. From the woman who married the Berlin Wall to a modern-day objectophile in a committed relationship with a roller coaster, this documentary-style episode unpacks love, attachment,...

Go behind the scenes of The StickyBeak in this wild, interactive podcast episode! I’m revisiting the craziest, funniest, and most jaw-dropping moments from past shows, answering your burning listener questions, and sharing the weirdest, most unexpected stories you won’t hear anywhere else. Perfect for fans of interactive, hilarious, and unforgettable podcasts!This episode was brought to you by...

At several points in our deep past, humanity came dangerously close to disappearing altogether. Using the latest genetic research, this episode explores the moments when our ancestors were reduced to astonishingly small numbers — and how scientists uncovered these ancient population crashes hidden inside our DNA. From dramatic climate shifts to evolutionary bottlenecks, this is the story of how...

Schwingen is one of Switzerland’s oldest and most beloved traditions — a form of wrestling fought in sawdust, governed by ritual, and rooted in rural life. In this documentary-style episode, Mon traces its history from Alpine pastures to national festivals, and examines how women are reshaping a sport built on centuries of tradition.A HUGE thank you to Vroni Brun for sharing her experiences.This...

What happens when women become the client — and men become the product?In this episode of The StickyBeak, host Monika O’Hanlon takes a curious, documentary-style look inside Her Confidant, Australia’s first male escort agency, founded by Anna Grosman. Through Anna’s story, we explore sex work from a rarely examined angle: female desire, emotional labour, intimacy, and what people are really...

Faces painted black and white. Faygo flying through the air. A chant of “woop woop” echoing through the crowd. But beyond the chaos and the headlines lies a subculture built on belonging, identity, and community.In this episode of The StickyBeak, Monika O’Hanlon dives into the misunderstood world of Juggalos — exploring the origins of Insane Clown Posse, the mythos of the Dark Carnival, the...