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Weird Crap in Australia

Weird Crap in Australia

By: The Modern Meltdown
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About this listen

 Welcome to "Weird Crap in Australia," a podcast hosted by Holly and Matthew, a husband and wife team with a passion for all things strange and unusual in the land down under.

Each episode, Holly, a trained historian, and Matthew, a pop-culture enthusiast, dive into the weird and wacky aspects of Australian history and society. From the colonial era to the present day, they explore topics such as aliens, monsters, ghosts, and true crime, uncovering the stories and legends that have fascinated Australians for generations.

As a social historian, Holly provides a unique perspective on the cultural significance of these strange phenomena, while Matthew brings his expertise in pop-culture to the table, offering insights into how these stories have been portrayed in movies, TV shows, and other media.

With a mix of humor and insight, "Weird Crap in Australia" is the perfect podcast for anyone who loves to explore the oddities and quirks of our world. Join Holly and Matthew as they take you on a journey through the strange and wonderful world of Australia's weirdest stories.

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Did you know a full firefight between MPs and soldiers took place in Central Station (Sydney) in February 1916, and you can still find the bullet holes in the pillars?

Did you know that one of Australia’s convict ships was waylaid by Americans during the aftermath of the American Revolution in 1815?

Did you know we have a dinosaur called Qantassaurus, and that most Australian fossil expeditions of the 1970s and 1980s were sponsored by corporations, rather than the government?

Did you know that the majority of the miners that took part in the Eureka Stockade of 1854 were Chinese, African-American, or from other ‘minority’ groups? And that the Victorian Gold Rush is where Australia learned to love Chinese food?

There’s a lot of history when it comes to this country - even just in the last 200 years - and very little of it is taught in our school systems. We feel that, in order to preserve the past, we have to get it out there into the minds of the present, and hopefully apply those lessons to the future. If you agree, we'd love you to join us.

New episodes release 12pm AEDST/AEST every Monday.

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Main Theme music – Kevin MacLeod
"Slow Ticking Clock" – Kevin MacLeod
Used under a Creative Commons license.

All sound and voice clips used are (c) their respective owners.

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/weird-crap-in-australia--2968350/support.Holly & Matthew Soall Social Sciences True Crime World
Episodes
  • Episode 390 - The Ben Hall Gang Part 1

    Episode 390 - The Ben Hall Gang Part 1
    Dec 15 2025
    In the mid-1860s, the goldfields and bush tracks of New South Wales were ruled by one of Australia’s most notorious outlaw groups: the Ben Hall Gang. Led by the charismatic and deeply divisive Ben Hall, the gang carried out a daring string of robberies that humiliated police, terrified settlers, and turned bushranging into front-page news. But this was no romantic Robin Hood tale. As pressure mounted and the government introduced brutal new laws to crush the outlaws, the violence escalated. Betrayals followed, loyalties fractured, and the line between legend and reality blurred beyond recognition.

    In this episode, we trace the rise and fall of the Ben Hall Gang — the robberies, the manhunts, the myths, and the bloody end that cemented their place in Australian history. It’s a story of mateship, desperation, and a colony determined to make an example of its most famous criminals.

    Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/weird-crap-in-australia--2968350/support.
    Show More Show Less
    49 mins
  • Episode 389 - Australia's Flying Terror

    Episode 389 - Australia's Flying Terror
    Dec 8 2025
    Australia has produced many formidable creatures: sharks, snakes, drop bears… but none strike fear into the national heart quite like the humble magpie. We’re diving beak-first into the legend of Australia’s Flying Terror — from swooping season strategies and infamous attack hotspots to the science behind why these monochrome missiles pick their targets.

    Join Matthew & Holly as they explore the birds' surprising intelligence, their role in folklore, and the heroic lengths Australians go to simply check the letterbox in spring. Lace up your shoes, keep your eyes front, and join us as we unravel how a beloved national icon also became one of the country’s most efficient airborne menaces.

    Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/weird-crap-in-australia--2968350/support.
    Show More Show Less
    44 mins
  • Episode 388 - The Weightman Murders (2000)

    Episode 388 - The Weightman Murders (2000)
    Dec 1 2025
    In January 2000, a car was found at the bottom of an embankment in Heathcote National Park. Inside were Bill and Pam Weightman — a respectable south-west Sydney couple, seemingly the victims of a tragic late-night accident. Police found no skid marks. No witnesses. No sign of another vehicle. Within hours, the case was closed.

    But nothing about the scene truly added up.

    Why were two cautious, routine-driven people out so late? Why did their injuries raise quiet questions no one followed up? And how did a forensic report — later revealed to contain a startling error — help bury the truth for four long years?

    In this episode, join Holly & Matthew as they examine the threads of a case that looked simple… until you examine the facts. It’s a story of suspicion, persistence, broken systems, and the unsettling realisation that sometimes the most ordinary tragedies aren’t what they seem.

    Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/weird-crap-in-australia--2968350/support.
    Show More Show Less
    1 hr and 5 mins
All stars
Most relevant
Full of great humour and a wonderful husband-and-wife team. Great research. May not be everyone's taste, but it sure is mine! Some of the jokes just keep me smiling!

Funny and enjoyable

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In the spirit of reconciliation, Audible acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of country throughout Australia and their connections to land, sea and community. We pay our respect to their elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples today.