Netflix may be shining a new spotlight on one of America’s most disturbing figures with Monster: The Ed Gein Story, but Pod Candy was there first. In this chilling mashup episode, hosts Stacey and Dr. John Mayer revisit their most fascinating and unnerving conversations about the real-life “Butcher of Plainfield.” With commentary from Dori, filmmaker Alex Flaster (who produced the A&E Biography on Ed Gein), and horror expert Adam Rockoff, they explore how Gein’s twisted legacy gave birth to icons like Norman Bates, Buffalo Bill, and Leatherface.

From Gein’s psychologically stunted upbringing under a fanatical mother to the macabre crimes that redefined horror, this episode dives deep into what made him both a monster and a myth. Plus, Adam returns to give his brutally honest take on Netflix’s new dramatization — what it got right, what it got wrong, and why fiction can’t compete with the horrifying truth.

Warning: Graphic discussion of real crimes and disturbing behavior.

Source Material: "A&E Biography: Ed Gein" (on A&E) & "Monster: The Ed Gein Story" (on Netflix)

In 1998, 23-year-old Amy Lynn Bradley vanished without a trace from a Caribbean cruise ship — and her story has haunted the world ever since. In this episode, Stacey, Dori, and Dr. John unpack one of the most chilling disappearances in modern history: Was Amy the victim of foul play, suicide, or something even darker like human trafficking?

From the baffling eyewitness sightings to the disturbing photos that surfaced years later, the hosts dive deep into every theory — mixing compassion, shock, and their trademark dark humor. Join the Pod Candy crew as they sift through the evidence, question the cruise line’s actions, and confront the eerie possibility that Amy Bradley might still be alive.

Stacey and Dori turn their attention to Teal Swan, a spiritual influencer whose teachings on healing and suicide have made her both magnetic and deeply controversial. Drawing from the docuseries The Deep End, the hosts unpack how Swan shapes her image, the unsettling dynamics within her inner circle, and why so many vulnerable people are drawn into her orbit. With Dr. John weighing in, the conversation digs into the psychology of manipulation, the ethics of self-proclaimed healers, and what this story reveals about belief, control, and the human need for answers.

Source Documentary: "The Deep End" on Prime Video