Spellbound and Gagged

Spellbound and Gagged

A podcast about all things that fascinate, unsettle and disgust. Not for kids. Hosted by Ellen Weatherford.

Episodes

July 4, 2025 71 mins

Who is the absolute worst mom in the animal kingdom? Why is there an ominous population of black vultures haunting Pennsylvania? In your relationship, are you the crab or the raptor? Explore these questions and more with Ellen and special guest, science communicator Ralph Crewe, as we bob for viscera with some of nature's gnarliest bird facts.

Special thanks to Jared Rusk for editing help on this episode!

Links:

Follow Ralph on I...

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Why do we feel so weird when robots look a little too much like humans? How have artists navigated the uncanny valley - whether narrowly avoiding it or intentionally plunging into the psychological trench? Ellen & guest, science communicator Tom Lum, ride the zombie train right into the uncanny valley.

Links:
Follow Tom on TikTok, Instagram and YouTube!
Follow Ellen on TikTok!
Follow Spellbound and Gagged o...

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June 28, 2024 39 mins

Who is the mysteriously unnamed "rocket enthusiast" behind the founding of NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory? Ashley uncovers the story of rocket engineer Jack Parsons and his relationship to space, occultism, sex rituals, L. Ron Hubbard, and more.

Links:

Music...

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What makes volcanic eruptions get so catastrophically massive? What's going on below the Earth's surface? Should we be worried about Yellowstone? Ellen & guest, geochemist and science communicator Meagan Ankney, explore all the most burning questions about supervolcanoes.

Links:
Check out Meagan's podcast, Spooky Science Sisters!
Follow Spooky Science Sisters on Tiktok, Instagram, YouTube, and T...

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April 14, 2023 44 mins

Understanding a fungus isn't brain surgery... unless you're an ant. Ellen & Ashley discuss how and why the "zombie-ant fungus" takes control over its insect host, compare reality with the way it's portrayed in pop culture, and look ahead into our own fungal future.

Links:

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Ellen takes Ashley and and guest Alex Schmidt on a journey through the history of Pompeii before, during, and after the catastrophic eruption of Mount Vesuvius.

Links:

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February 17, 2023 50 mins

We’ve got fire in our belly for this episode’s topic: the puzzling phenomenon of spontaneous human combustion. How does a person suddenly and mysteriously burst into flames, and what happens to the human body when it burns? Find out with us.


Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!):

https://uppbeat.io/t/doug-organ/snake-oil

License code: E0XTG15DVOSBM1F3



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The animal kingdom takes toxic relationships to a whole new level. Ellen & guest Katie Goldin discuss their favorite parasites, from snail eyestalk raves to big juicy butts to warm, cozy fish mouths. What’s the matter? Crab got your tongue?

Follow Katie on Twitter & listen to her podcast Creature Feature for more!

Extra credit:

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December 16, 2022 58 mins

This podcast is a message... and part of a system of messages... pay attention to it! Ellen & Ashley discuss nuclear waste, from the Simpsons and ninja turtle ooze to the mysteries of the distant future and our best attempts to protect them from ourselves. 

Further reading:

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December 2, 2022 49 mins

Ellen & guest, the Plant Professor Dr. Vikram Baliga, discuss nightshade, hemlock, poisonous eggplants, medieval pranks, witchcraft, and the death of Socrates.


Further reading:

Why the Tomato Was Feared in Europe for More Than 200 Years

“Hexing Herbs” in Ethnobotanical Perspective: A Historical Review of the Uses of Anticholinergic Solanaceae Plants in Europe


Music from Uppbeat (free for Creators!):

https://uppbeat.io/t/d...

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November 11, 2022 48 mins

Hooking up with your coworkers is awkward enough on Earth. Just imagine how astronauts feel. Ashley & Ellen discuss the "ins and outs" of off-planet sex, from the effects of radiation on reproduction to the troublesome issue of bodily fluid dynamics in microgravity. It's out of this world!

Further reading:
Newt gestation in space
"100 Tampons" by Marcia Belsky

Music from Uppbea...

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November 7, 2022 37 secs

Get a preview of Spellbound and Gagged, a podcast about all the weird, gross and unsettling stuff that keeps us up at night. The first episode will be up on Friday, November 11. Subscribe now so you don't miss it!

Keep up with updates on the podcast by following us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.

Music from Uppbeat (free for Creators!):

https://uppbeat.io/t/doug-organ/snake-oil

License code: ENGEHAEPUCBEZWVF

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