Now Fear This! with Becky & Merie

**CONTENT WARNING: RAPE, SEXUAL ASSAULT** In this episode Becky & Merie wade into the murky waters of Japanese hostess culture and dive into Lucie Blackman’s terrifying disappearance that led to a serial rapist who preyed on women for decades and an unexpected resolution to Carita Ridgeway’s cold case. Along the way, they address the burning questions you didn’t know you had, like: Can you die from…mothball fumes? Does Becky have a verb in that sentence or does Merie have an arm growing out of her back? Which one of your hosts is destined to listen to a book on tape while checking…MapQuest? Based on evidence, is Becky or Merie your…grandma?! 👵 (could be neither!) Are your hosts heightists or tallists? (could be both!) Are YOUR give a f**ks on vacation?! Come for Becky’s country music version of the juiciest bits of “Please Please Please” from the fabulous Sabrina Carpenter. Stay for the documentary where things repeatedly get "taken" from Liam Neeson. Also, anyone who speaks Japanese want to tour your hosts around Japan? 🇯🇵🙏 See the incredible fringe-y ‘90s bangs of hostesses in an ad here. Sources for this episode include rabbit hole mag, cinemaholic, Netflix, deadline.com, heavy.com, abc.net.au, Manchester Evening News, Business Insider, Cosmopolitan, annabillersblog,

Check out Minisode 1 on cults first, 'cause part 2 drops ya right in the middle of your hosts discussing the shocking "one taste om" from the sex cult featured in "Orgasm Inc" then ramps it up with the MLM yoga pants nightmare LulaRich and caps everything off with the "go ahead & stalk people if you say you love 'em" Twin Flames. 😳  Sources include: Rolling Stone, Newsweek, thewrap.com, bigthink.com, verywellmind.com, oprahdaily, ABC News, Vox

This episode has your hosts discussing their fears of national parks and the various murders & mysteries therein, including the case of Morgan Heimer in the Grand Canyon, the Shenandoah National Park cold case double murders* of Lollie Winans & Julie Williams, and not one but TWO horrible humans who killed their wives in national parks and thus got caught for murdering their previous wife! Along the way, your hosts address the burning questions you didn’t know you had, like: CAN you be an a**hole without being a murderer? Why is Becky threatening to Silence-of-the-Lambs Merie? Who amongst us takes pride in our ability to…dial AAA? How big of a badass girl is serial killer survivor Kara Robinson? (hint: maybe the biggest badass ever.) Come for the hiking friends without benefits. Stay for Merie’s verrrry different rules for the guy’s side of the Korean spa. Stay to the end for the super-sexy-yet-completely-uninformed life insurance talk. #yourewelcome Follow Tourons of Yellowstone and be prepared for the 🤦🏼‍♀️😒🤦🏻‍♀️ of it all. Also, someone get Merie her own bear bell. Please. Now. *This episode was recorded waaaay back THE DAY BEFORE the murders of Lolly & Julie were announced to have been solved! Thus, a minisode will be coming up soon with all the details! Sources include almost toooooo many to count! Blue Ridge Outdoors, WaPo, Trailed by Kathrine Miles, New York Post,. East Idaho News, Sundial Press, Out, Coloradopolitics.com, westwood.com, freerangeamerican.us, trailsunblazed blog, Cleveland 5 News

In their very first minisode, Becky & Merie are fearing the sheer volume of current bat-sh*t crazy cults & cult documentaries out there, amongst them the orgasm-based cult (?!) One Taste, The Way Down, Keep Sweet Pray & Obey, The Vow, Bikram Yogi Predator, Love has Won, and MORE! Sources for this minisode include: Newsweek, thewrap.com, bigthink.com, verywellmind.com, oprahdaily, ABC News, Vox

This week’s podcast episode finds Merie & Becky diving into an online relationship’s deadly collateral damage, featuring murderer Grant Amato, where the 2 people in the “relationship” aren’t the ones who end up dead. Merie also reveals even more in-depth & terrifying info about the family annihilation of Margaret, Chad, and Cody Amato than was seen in the documentary CTRL ALT Desire. Along the way, the phrase “adolescents going to doctors for boner pills” makes an appearance, and your hosts address the burning questions you didn’t know you had, like: How does movie popcorn help you prevent yourself from professing that someone is your angel on earth? What’s the most cringe-y sex scene in the history of cinema…St. Elmo’s Fire or Bridgerton?! (Hint: it’s a tie!) Anybody out there know any old crabby widows in the highlands of Scotland that creepy creeper Grant could steal from next? (Merie might!) Do YOU put refrigerators in corn fields when you’re going through a hard time? (Becky does!) Come for the (wildly) inappropriate wifi names. Stay for the super-sexy grammar lesson involving propofol. Find the violence threat assessment tool Becky mentions here. Read more about childhood resilience & the importance of neuroplasticity here. And y’all go watch the hilarious and delightful Jane the Virgin. Do it now. Sources for this episode include The Cinemaholic, The Heavy, AETV, ABC News, Daily Mail, intouchweekly.com, Buzzfeed

Season 3 has begun (finally!)! Join your favorite true crime comedy podcast hosts as they revisit some of their favorite moments from the podcast thus far (including never-released clips!) and take a glimpse into the near future, including GPS-and-grizzly-bear-based disappearances resulting in prison time and a creepy & disgusting family annihilator with a prison smile so repellent it will make your skin crawl right off your body. Along the way, Becky & Merie address the burning questions you didn’t know you had, like: Why is Walter the Cat the face of this episode?! Will your podcast hosts judge you for NOT drinking wine while listening? Can Becky make it through one episode without telling someone to go f**k themselves? What is the most terrifyingly realistic depiction of a psychopath on television?! What ASMR Youtuber causes Merie’s snot to fly while simultaneously bringing about a premature end to Becky’s life? Will Merie EVER directly ask for 5 star reviews from you, our beloved listeners?! (Becky is, tho! Becky is asking! 🙏) Come for the spikey tennis ball that may or may not be a workplace sex toy. Stay for Becky's ongoing life-and-death struggle to get Merie to actually visit the life-changing https://www.fearthispodcast.com/ website. Sources include: Dear Felicity podcast. The book Popular Crime. The Paramount+ doc CTRL ALT Desire. Bread Face. The film A Promising Young Woman. The doc The Most Hated Man on the Internet. HBO’s Euphoria. Oh! And the Bible. 🤷‍♀️🤷🏻‍♀️ This episode is brought to you by Merie’s vaguely rapey cat, Walter. 

This week’s podcast episode has Becky and Merie diving into violent urban legends' origin stories, including the Hook Man and his roots in murder cases like the still-unsolved Texas Phantom Killer. Along the way, your hosts address the burning questions you didn’t know you had, like: Which mental institution do YOU want to tour for a college field trip? Is a pre-Facebook advice column responsible for putting an end to lovers’ lanes and its associated “necking?” Which “Dawson’s Creek” dreamboat is Becky’s boyfriend in this episode? (Hint: It’s not Dawson!) Is Thor responsible for brutally killing a couple of orderlies in a 1920’s Iowa farm town?  Come for Merie yelling the phrase, “YOU F**KING FLEE!” before Becky can even say the F word once. Stay to find out which recent Netflix movie is an unintentional horror show. Also: Did YOU pick the wrong night to pick on Stanley?!

This week’s podcast episode delves into Death by Cable Guy, featuring the lovely Texas grandma Betty Thomas murdered by Roy James Holden, Jr., who headed to WalMart with her credit cards and without changing from his murder clothes. Along the way, Becky & Merie address the burning questions you didn’t know you had, like: Can you cut the weight line out & cover the whirl? (Neither can Becky. Or Merie’s hairdresser.) What new TV show is so bad Becky is considering filing charges against its creators? How many of you want to hack us and find all the photos of…tooth abscesses and sleeping cats? Who amongst us deserves to be punched in the dick? Depends: Are YOU the guy running a site with illegally obtained porn? Are you a wacko massage therapist “feeling” negative energy in Merie's shoulder? Will getting murdered by the cable guy get you out of your final bill? Come for Merie’s inability to have herself at “hello. Stay for the cuteness overload of 2 cats meeting.   Sources for this episode include: lawandcrime.com. New York Post. NBC news. dailymail.com and Dallas Observer. USA TODAY.

This week’s podcast episode involves fencing-induced violence (and not the kind that gets you an Olympic medal, more like prison time) as neighborly disputes turn horrifying and murderous. Along the way, your hosts address the burning questions you didn’t know you had, like: How does a meal of liver & onions lead to Becky questioning Merie’s moral compass? What do you get the psychopath in your life? Try our Psychopath Gift Basket of jalapeños, black coffee, and bitter chocolates! Why is Becky threatening to give y’all an unprovoked (but sure-to-be-super-sexy) grammar lesson? How good is your Apple TV’s Black Bird serial killer voice? (Not as good as Merie’s!!! 😝)  Come for the discussion of the tragic Schloegl family massacre. Stay for Long Beach racist Lorene Mae Lake’s relentless campaign to become the worst person in the world. (Also, get off that motorcycle!) Advice for avoiding litigation, threats, and death can be found here.

This week, your podcast hosts are fearing for grown adult men, Terrence Woods and Lars Mittank, who both vanished without a trace in broad daylight and in front of witnesses, never to be seen again. Along the way, Becky & Merie address the burning questions you didn’t know you had, like: Is the doctor’s clinic in Bulgaria next to the Cinnabon or the Chilis 2? How much will Mark Cuban invest in our Shark Tank pitch that involves pixelated body parts? What could cause one of your pod-coasts to utter the words, “As a human being I cannot bless you!?” (Same for “sit down, little man?”) Do YOU answer the call of the void? …and is that before or after you find yourself in bar fights arguing over soccer & Star Wars? Anyone want to shop at our new boutique, Elements & Elephants? (us, either!) Come for Merie’s anti-climactic “f*ck you” to her boss. Stay for Becky’s horrible German accent that should get her arrested in Frankfurt even more so than that unfortunate international airport incident back in 2019. 😬 (Also, you better acknowledge that sneeze.) Sources for this episode include Talk Murder with me . Strange Outdoors. Forbes. All That’s Interesting. Vanished.us.

This week’s podcast episode has your hosts attempting to piece together the long and winding tale of the 1985 murder of Helen Wilson and its resulting trials, as featured in the doc series on HBO Mind Over Murder. Along the way, they address the burning questions you didn’t know you had, like: How could Becky & Merie forget the name of the badass woman who got this nightmare all figured out? (BTW, it’s Special Investigator Tina Vath, thus the title of this ep!) Ya wanna see a tutorial on how to have sex in a video store? How for the loveofbabyjesusinamager can some nonexistent dirty dishes lead directly to 6 murder convictions? Is Merie a Vulcan or an elf? What phenomenon is deadly to humans but creates...giant radishes? What exactly IS a cognitive dissonance-a-palooza (and how can anyone possibly know that)? Can YOU hear Becky nodding? Come for your pod-coasts unscientific analysis of caves & volcanoes. Stay for Becky’s simple solution for living a calmer, more peaceful life.

Welcome back to the Now Fear This podcast’s coverage of the awful murder of Dallas dentist Dr. Kendra Hatcher, with discussion of the police investigation and the ensuing trials. Along the way, your hosts address the burning questions you didn’t know you had, like: Does drinking and taking Ambien turn you into a murder-plotting psycho? Did Becky pick the wrong week to quit huffing paint? Don’t you hate it when your car shows up on the news as a murder scene getaway vehicle? Do you use a dry erase board with $ signs on it to plan your murders just so the police will fully know your plot when they raid your house? (No? Just Becky, then? Okay.) How are Merie’s immunosuppressant drugs related to her decision to go on the lam following a murder spree? Do YOU want to choose who Becky kills on national TV in order to fulfill her Barkley list? (Email her at [email protected]!) Why is Merie threatening Becky with turning around and showing Becky her flannel shirt collection? 🙀 Did Becky’s cat really try & kill her & make it look like a suicide? Come for Becky’s voice turning into the Wicked Witch of the West around minute 27. Stay to the very end for little preview of an upcoming Now Fear This! episode about an HBO murder documentary. Sources for this episode include Daily Mail. Texas Monthly. Dallas Observer.

This week’s podcast episode has Merie & Becky discussing the murder-for-hire of beloved children’s dentist Kendra Hatcher, which occurred in Becky’s neighborhood in 2015. Along the way, they address the burning questions you didn’t know you had, like: How does a tandem bike lead directly to divorce in a parking lot in Napa? How is breast cup size related to whether or not you could…stroke out? How many of us call 911 when we can’t get the wifi to work? (No? Just Becky? 🤷‍♀️) Death by fitted sheet…or sports bra? Your choice. What sperm-based true-crime documentary makes Becky “sangry?” (And can y’all just keep your sperm inside your bodies until…invited? Thanks!) Who amongst us is capable of negotiating like a man for a murder-for-hire position? Come for Merie’s workout-related near-death experience. Stay for your pod-coasts' offensive list of “troubley” names (And forgive Becky, okay? Her name is BECKY!) Also, hey, Brenda: MOVE ON. Sources for this episode include Daily Mail. Texas Monthly. Dallas Observer. And go to Southern Decadence weekend in New Orleans. Go.

This week’s podcast dives into the curious case of “The Selfie Murderer” Amanda Taylor, and other various and sundry selfie-related deaths. Along the way, your hosts address the burning questions you didn’t even know you had, like:. Is that an alien egg or a green vagina? Who amongst us isn’t too crazy for ISIS? What behavior does Merie engage in that totally wigs out a Disney dolphin trainer? Can you forgive Becky for being super bummed about all the mass shootings? Thank you. (Also, she’s sorry for being really cleavage-y. It’s not her fault.) How come the “Wild West” had strict gun regulation back then, yet we can’t pull our shit together today? Why is Merie threatening to take Becky to a museum specifically designed for Becky’s waking nightmare (aka, selfies)? Can you leave the quote mark hanging? (Not if Merie has anything to say about it!) Come for the cross-heavy decor. Stay for Becky’s official Senate campaign slogan (against the universally loathed Ted Cruz 🤮) coined by her future campaign manager Merie. Trust me: it’s a good one. Follow Influencers in the Wild. Do it now.

Part 2 of the podcast’s exploration of the tiny town of Skidmore, MO has your pod-coasts traveling along the dusty trail of a gruesome murder and more than one potential kidnapping, taking a detour through Texas and the Ozarks, yet somehow ending up back in Missouri. Along the way, they address the burning questions you didn’t even know you had, like: Is Skidmore really just this nice little community of people who are sitting ducks for out-of-town Chester the Molesters, murderers, and baby snatchers? Is Aaron Rodgers actually the pitcher for a Major League Baseball club (and how could anyone possibly know that!)? Does Becky really offer her ear to Merie as a birthday gift? What are the odds of Merie dreaming about cats nursing orphaned baby squirrels? (Pretty good!) What are the odds of you catching Becky watching a “body horror” movie? (Slim to none!) What are the odds of you finding Merie having sex behind a Dumpster (Less than zero - who has that kind of quad strength?!) What is the thing Merie reveals about herself that horrifies Becky so much she wishes to turn back time to before she heard it? Come for the cuss-shaming. Stay for the machete-wielding phone avenger. 

This week’s podcast episode has Merie & Becky metaphorically heading into the tiny town of Skidmore, MO, and the murders, assaults, unsolved crimes, and odd disappearances that have happened there. Along the way, they address the burning questions you didn’t know you had, like: IS it the year of penises on television? (And what other penises are there?!) Is “Skidmore” a new CW show where there's hot people casting spells and doing crimes? (We hope so!🤞🏻) Is Becky in fact looking at Merie while touching her boobs? (Maybe!) Would Becky rather murder her husband than have insomnia? (Only sometimes!) Can we stop giving people the middle name Wayne? (‘Cause it’s guaranteed serial killer material!) What unknown “California drug” makes you shave all your pubic hair? Come for the Mr. & Mrs. Punkin contest. Stay for the turkey baster-based breast implants Becky is threatening to inflict on Merie. (Also, That’s some Grade A nerd shit right there.) Sources for this episode include: Medium.com. Talk Murder with Me. Oxygen.com Rolling Stone. A book called Baby be Mine by Diane Fanning. https://allthatsinteresting.com/branson-perry

This week’s continuation of season 2 of the podcast has Merie & Becky heading down the long, terrifying, and confusing crime story of the murder of Jessica Chambers. Along the way, they address the burning questions you didn’t know you had, like: How does Merie start a turf war with Mississippi gangs over copyright infringement? Do you want to apply to her super-exclusive wine club, the Sip Mob? Remember when your pod-coasts used to be good at, you know, podcasting? (Us, either!) Should you learn how to surf after the age of…40? (Hint: NO!!!) Did Becky go to Cambridge or not (and how could anyone possibly know that?)?! Can you be in a small town in Mississippi and NOT be in a drug gang? (Probably not!) Would Becky convict you for murdering someone because of pimento cheese? (Never! 🤮) Should you kidnap Merie for her ATM’s PIN? (Only if you don’t want it!) What pairs well with baloney sandwiches, Entenmanns, and Chee-toes? (Maybe a nice Chablis?) Come for the book called How my Podcast ruined my Marriage and my Life. Stay for Merie’s description of how she’s going to die at the hands of…Bob. Sources for this episode include: Oxygen. People. ID Crimefeed. Clarion Ledger.

WE’RE BAAAAACK!!!! This week’s podcast episode has Merie & Becky attempting to take on the terrifying phenomenon known as house squatting (and not the potty-related kind - eww) and a Netflix show called “Worst Roommate Ever.” Along the way, they address the burning questions you didn’t know you had, like: Is “Bye Karen” the new “Bye Felicia?” 🤞🏻What fear-inducing activity is Merie doing with her husband’s phone while he’s asleep at night? DOES Merie need to see the tooth that’s all rotted out in the back of your head? Do YOU want to see Merie’s weird cat fetish stuff? (Neither does Becky!) Does Becky judge you when she peers in your windows while you’re having sex? (You’ll never know!) Can Merie…count? (Depends: Are Becky’s f-bombs in this episode numbered at 0 or 25?!?) Does Merie have stories of squatters and even strangers living in her mom’s attic? (Of course she does!) Come for the U-Haul inflicted PTSD. Stay to witness Merie becoming her mother. Also, you’re not taking Becky’s fucking cat.  Sources include: New Yorker.  D Magazine. Listverse. AppleNews.

For this year’s continuation of the 12 Fears of Christmas, join Becky & Merie as they discuss terrifying holiday shopping, sappy Hallmark movies, and some creeeeeeepy Christmastime disappearances. Along the way, they spread unconfirmed disinformation about Walmart and modern slavery. Also: What’s all this about the violence in an invented county called Clarecork in Ireland? How long do those Forever 21 dresses last before they disintegrate? Long enough for you to snag yourself a prince from Malvadeniastan? Want to join Merie in all her watching of German torture porn? How ‘bout the scary violent guy who turns out to be prince AND saves the town square? Why not Christmas at Six Flags? Becky apologizes for the horrible French accents attempted by your pod-coasts. So…grab your pepper spray and let’s go shopping!

For this year’s continuation of the 12 Fears of Christmas, join Becky & Merie as they discuss terrifying holiday shopping, sappy Hallmark movies, and some creeeeeeepy Christmastime disappearances. Along the way, they spread unconfirmed disinformation about Walmart and modern slavery. Also: What’s all this about the violence in an invented county called Clarecork in Ireland? How long do those Forever 21 dresses last before they disintegrate? Long enough for you to snag yourself a prince from Malvadeniastan? Want to join Merie in all her watching of German torture porn? How ‘bout the scary violent guy who turns out to be prince AND saves the town square? Why not Christmas at Six Flags? Becky apologizes for the horrible French accents attempted by your pod-coasts. So…grab your pepper spray and let’s go shopping!

For this year’s continuation of the 12 Fears of Christmas, join Becky & Merie as they discuss terrifying holiday shopping, sappy Hallmark movies, and some creeeeeeepy Christmastime disappearances. Along the way, they spread unconfirmed disinformation about Walmart and modern slavery. Also: What’s all this about the violence in an invented county called Clarecork in Ireland? How long do those Forever 21 dresses last before they disintegrate? Long enough for you to snag yourself a prince from Malvadeniastan? Want to join Merie in all her watching of German torture porn? How ‘bout the scary violent guy who turns out to be prince AND saves the town square? Why not Christmas at Six Flags? Becky apologizes for the horrible French accents attempted by your pod-coasts. So…grab your pepper spray and let’s go shopping!

Once upon a time, a girl named Becky watched a movie named “Love, Actually.” While most people react to said film with smiles and even reverence, Becky reacted with sadness ☹️, nausea 🤮, and even anger 🤬. One year ago, Merie and Becky sat down to talk about this film as a part of their “12 Fears of Christmas.” The full episode had to be edited down to 15 minutes, thus inducing more ☹️, 🤮, and 🤬 in Becky, who really wants you to understand the horror show that is this movie, and experience her rage in all its 30-minute “bipedal vagina” glory (agony?). She really, REALLY hates this movie. Your pod-coasts also offer the same unedited treatment for the episode with Merie’s attempts to diagnose Becky’s Love, Actually Psychological Condition. Find it on the BONUS page when you subscribe↑↑↑! So, here it is! Becky & Merie’s 12 Fears of Christmas, Fear 4: “Love, Actually” (Director’s Cut). Enjoy! Follow @thelindywest. Do it now.

This week’s Thanksgiving podcast episode has Merie and Becky examining nutso-deluxo cases of holiday meal-based family murders, featuring murderer Joel Guy, Jr. Along the way, they address the burning questions you didn’t know you had, like: Do YOU have a safety advisor around when you financially cut off your grown-assed adult human male child? (Perhaps you should. Especially if he looks like this guy ↓) Does YOUR murder checklist always include Walmart? (Of course it does. Especially if it is written in this handwriting ↓) Do you write letters to the authorities to prevent yourself from gouging out your roommate’s eyes? Will Merie pick YOU up from your surgery? (Hint: no.) Does the devil cause Becky’s prayer-based collapsing pillow debacle?  Come for the can-shaped cranberries. Stay for Becky’s how-to-NOT-murder-your-parents-to-do list. Also, why is Becky fearing Merie’s penis hat? (See below & be terrified ↓. Very terrified.)     

This week’s podcast episode has Merie & Becky attempting to take on the latest internet challenge: Slap a teacher! No, not really. But they do give the NFT! treatment to silly and dangerous memes & challenges, like the gas tank drug-based car explosion murders and that whole milk crate debacle. Along the way, they address the burning questions you didn’t know you had, like: What did YOU do when we lost gravity last May 22? Float? Us, either. If you have your fentanyl, do YOU use the fentanyl or randomly waste it by rubbing it on painter’s tape and scaring suburbanites? Isn’t it bad enough that Sharon Stone goes around being all heterosexual, but why does she have to throw it in our faces?! Is Merie legally obligated to point out Becky’s abnormally tall height in every 4th or 5th episode? How does a criminal gang in Texas lead to Becky breaking into a song from West Side Story? (Yes. She’s sorry about that.) Were YOU in the audience when Merie knocked herself out trying to get her yellow belt in TaeKwonDo? And did you laugh or cheer? How did Merie’s loud-assed voice effectively send her entire company into a meltdown for a day? Come for the “Ambiguously Gay Duo” Saturday Night Live superhero reference. Stay for advice on bringing a gun to the milk crate challenge.

Join Becky & Merie in this podcast episode, where they do not hold back on their scathing review of the god-awful horror show of a horror “movie” Malignant. They do, however, use said “movie” as a springboard for discussing crime as it relates to various & sundry twins and identities, parasitic or otherwise...so, there’s that. Along the way, believe it or not, your hosts also address the burning questions you didn’t know you had, like: How come abandoned mental asylums are accessible only at night and during a rainstorm? Just how little did Becky pay attention to the “plot” of this episode’s spotlight movie? (Hint: verrrry little. Hey, YOU try watching it! No, wait, don’t.) Who is the poor man’s Bryce Dallas Howard and is that a…compliment? Just how inaccurate can your two pod-coasts be when talking about gender identity and dysmorphia? (And will you please forgive them…they’re trying!?) Would YOU watch a movie about Jim Henson’s nightmare twin muppets? Are space aliens responsible for a group of terrible crimes in a French resort town? Come for Merie’s explanation of how twins are formed. Stay for Becky’s threat of horror-jazz ASMR. Also, have YOU seen those abs?! (Us, either. Show us!) Sources for this episode include: Merie’s ass. BBC. ABC News. Read about the murders of Yolanda Sapp, Kathleen Brisbois, and Nickie Lowe  here.

Welcome to the bonus podcast episode for Halloween 2021, featuring Becky and a lil bit of spooky storytelling. Tune in for some ghosts 👻, a coupla stalkers & creepers 🔪, and more than one haunted house 😱. If you like ‘em, let your pod-coasts know & maybe they can do more of this in the future! These are from the “interwebs” AND include a couple of tales authored by Becky herself. The majority of these stories appear on multiple sites, where an author could not be found. Sites include: https://thoughtcatalog.com https://shortscarystories.tumblr.com. pinterest. reddit.

***Listen to the very end for a preview of Becky’s creepy ghost stories!!!*** This podcast episode has your hosts discussing dead bodies on porches, in trees, and hanging from roofs…some real, some not, but all in the name of Halloween. Along the way, they address the burning questions you didn’t know you had, like: Will Becky honor a gruesomely murdered Merie with bloody handprints on her glass door? Which one of your hosts is now branded an #entertainmentkaren? Which TV show requires Merie to insert…a catheter? What are your career prospects if your surname is Mother**ker-Asshole?…Perhaps an auto-body painter in Waco, Texas? Come for the slow-moving zombies. Stay for the decapitated head Pez dispenser.

This week’s podcast episode finds your hosts investigating the history of fear of Halloween trick or treat poisonings, which all began with a Pixie Stick and an EVIL, evil father. Along the way, Becky & Merie address the burning questions you didn’t know you had, like: Why does Becky have to womansplain Beckysplaining to Merie? Wanna be a sexy poop emoji 💩 for Halloween? Is there any costume that sounds better than a sexy giant cheese wedge?! 🧀 Is that strychnine or is it cornstarch? 🤷‍♀️ How come Becky & Merie are not gonna kill kids with fruits and vegetables? 🍅 What leads Becky to utter the phrase, “We’re all busy tampons?” Come for the inaccurate descriptions of various household poisons. ☠️ Stay for Merie’s murder plot check list. 🔪 Watch the Cropsey documentary. And keep the lights on. Sources for this episode include: Oxygen. Listverse. SF Gate. Snopes. Further sources can be found here: https://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/six-banned-candies-you-wont-be-getting-on-halloween https://thoughtcatalog.com/jim-goad/2014/10/13-brutal-halloween-murders-nsfw/

This week’s podcast episode finds Becky & Merie probing the fallout from the COVID Disinformation Dozen and the resulting public freakouts. Along the way, they address the burning questions you didn’t know you had, like: Did a certain singer's cousin’s balls ever recover from swelling up the size of Alpha Centauri? How are surgical masks connected to child sex trafficking? (No, seriously. HOW?) Bill Gates is kind of an a**hole, but did he plan this? Don’t you love it when there’s a big global conspiracy plan for global domination out there? (Neither does Becky.) Do you want to attend the New Delhi cow urine drinking party? How about camel urine? (Us, either.) What spoon-based science experiment may trigger you if you’re into ASMR? What happiness-based science cult is Merie threatening to embed herself in as a comedy journalist? Why is a woman who is not having anal sex responsible for…banning books in Texas? Is there video proof of a televangelist summoning the wind of God? Come for “the sexiest conversation we’ve ever had on this show.” Stay for the…violet-dipped anal swabs? 🤷‍♀️ Follow Patton Oswald. NOW. Sources for this episode include: MSNBC’s Brian William with the mic drop. And you can see the Texas mom anal sex freakout here: https://www.tmz.com/2021/09/19/texas-mother-austin-school-board-meeting-anal-sex-book/

In this week’s podcast episode, Becky & Merie take on the bizarre & murderous crime spree of Missouri’s Pam Hupp, who murdered at least two people in cold blood…that we know of. Along the way, your hosts address the burning questions you didn't know you had, like: Body horror: genius or genuinely f**king awful? Is there such a thing as "sexually sedentary?" What in the hell causes one of your pod-coasts to utter the phrase, “You don’t want to see a woman get raped by a car?” Was the Academy Award-winning Korean film “Parasite” actually, sneakily, done in Mandarin Chinese? (According to super-smart Amazon “reviewers,” yes.) Do YOU re-enact 911 calls as a hobby or pretend to be a Dateline NBC producer to lure people to your home? (Well…maybe you’ll stop after this show.) What is Merie’s cat-based murder plot? Come for Merie’s British zombie doctor monologuing that gets Becky hiccup-laughing. Stay for the short hair-based doomsday cult. Sources for this episode include: Oxygen. filmdaily.com. St. Louis Today. Dateline’s There’s Something about Pam podcast.

This week’s podcast episode has your hosts trying to make sense of the Pennsylvania deep-fake cheerleading scandal, albeit with mild success. Along the way, Becky & Merie address the burning questions you didn't know you had, like: Why does Merie keep threatening Becky with photos involving brownie batter? Which app is protected by Merie’s “Attention Whore"-based email password? How long would it take YOU to recognize someone performing an uninvited sex act on an Instagram phone call? How many old lady alert red flags can be spotted in this episode? Would YOU go on Good Morning America and lie about vaping just to stay a Viper?! What pervy things would Merie leave behind if she (totally legally) searched your house? Is Sweden a part of The Netherlands? (And how could anyone possibly know that?) Come for the police-y things. Stay for the toxic traits, revenge, dating boys, and smoking. Follow Becky’s Instagram at @theveraciousvoyager. Sources for this include: New York Times. Cosmo. Vice.

This week’s podcast episode delves into COVID-19’s airplane-based mayhem. Along the way, Becky & Merie address the burning questions you didn't know you had, like: Who flies coach because they, “like to be among the people?” Maybe…the prime minister of Douchebagistan? And is he responsible for the Douchenado? How is Becky going to end up in a Bahamian prison because of some high school kids from Boston? How about that new superhero duo of Verbal Evisceraters? Why can’t some of you tell Becky & Merie apart?! Who out there is going to name their kid DoucheShawn? Why is Becky threatening to massage Merie’s head against her will? Is it because Merie is threatening to honk Becky’s boob? Come for inane voice compliments. Stay for Becky & Merie debating snarky rules of airline travel. Sources for this episode include: Forbes, NPR, meaww.com. The Real Spark, James Bates: @the_real_spark

In this week’s podcast episode, Becky & Merie discuss champion boxer Christy Salters Martin’s abusive-turned-homicidal marriage to piece of human garbage Jim Martin, as told in the Netflix documentary, “Untold: Deal with the Devil.” Along the way, they answer the burning questions you didn’t know you had, like: Who amongst us demands proof of life photos of our…pets? How do you keep Merie in a bad relationship? (Hint: Stop at the HEB.) Are you a big, romantic gesture person? If so, Becky has some words for you. *If you or someone you know is in a scary, abusive, or potentially dangerous relationship, please reach out for help. You have options: Visit https://www.thehotline.org or https://www.womenshealth.gov. Call 1.800.799.SAFE (7233) or 1-800-787-3224 (TTY). Resources state by state can be found here. You can also text "START" to 88788. In the meantime, read The Gift of Fear and read about preventing your own murder on Becky’s blog. One of those posts is here.

Welcome back to mystery at Lake Waco, where your hosts attempt to make sense of the crime and the bat-shit crazy investigation that followed. Along the way, Becky & Merie address the burning questions you didn’t know you had, like: Just how many motherf**kers are going to end up confessing to this triple murder? Why is Becky scared of her suitcase? And is it tied to her fear of a lengthy COVID-related jail sentence? Was Merie once a baby shark or a werewolf? Just what does Tab Harper, just like the soft drink & Becky’s cat, have to do with all of this? Just why hasn’t Merie read the transcripts of the trials? What documentary is Becky warning you not to watch if you are feeling suicidal? Who has two thumbs & killed those kids? Come for the Zen voice. Stay for the ranch dressing packet talk that stuns Becky into silence.

This week’s podcast episode finds Becky & Merie discussing the (solved? unsolved?) case of three teenagers, Jill Montgomery, Raylene Rice, and Kenneth Franks, who were murdered at Lake Waco in 1982. Along the way, they address the burning questions you didn’t know you had, like: Will Merie EVER get the intro to this show correct the first time???!!! IS there such s thing as Hustler Forum? Just how terrifying are Becky’s Baby Jane floating red lips? (Hint: “subtle” isn’t her middle name.) Which of your pod-coasts has the balls to declare, “I’m a pretty handsome dude!” What lone wolf cop character will be played by Tommy Lee Jones in the movie version of this tragedy? Can your pod-coasts get through one episode without the magazine Texas Monthly? (hint: no!) Is being found immediately after you’re murdered in your home a good reason to…attend church? Would Becky rather face a serial killer in a dark alleyway or attend Scarborough Fair? (hint: bring on Bundy!) How long into this episode does it take before we finally land on blaming a devil cult for this horrible triple murder? Come for Becky’s brag about knowing “a lot about life insurance.” Stay for the poor imitations of a French accent. Sources for this episode include: Texas Monthly. An Innocence Project’s article about the role bite mark evidence has played in miscarriages of justice.

This week’s podcast episode seeks to answer the question hanging over us from last week: what the hell really happened to Betty Gore and her murderer, Candy Montgomery? Along the way, Becky & Merie address the burning questions you didn't know you had, like: What in the actual f**k is a sweet, intelligent mouth…in regards to a (male) hypnotherapist?! Would someone please for the love of babyjesusinamanger put a stop to Merie’s mail being stolen? Would you want to take a girls’ trip to Chernobyl OR visit an ax-murdering therapist in Georgia? Does someone shushing you lead directly to their murder? (No? Guess it’s just Candy, then.) Do YOU bring a weapon when you tell someone you don’t want to see them ever again…until tomorrow? Does Becky’s kitty cat Harper’s meow sound like a squeak or a chirp? What makes Merie want to enlist Candy & her married lover in a plan for exiting Afghanistan? Come for the impression of an ax murderer’s wails of agony. Stay for the neck cream recommendation.

This week’s podcast episode delves into the shocking and scandalous murder of Betty Gore at the hands of Candy Montgomery. Along the way, Becky & Merie address the burning questions you didn't know you had, like: What is it about Texas movie pickles that might make Becky ax-murder Merie? What are “Texas teeth?” And are they a big part of being a slut tease? Who in Merie’s life once declared, “We can't let you die because you haven't paid us yet!” Does your prenup for your affair smell like...the carpet at the Como Motel?! Are you going to take Becky to be Medieval Times and leave her there? (Well, that depends…do you HATE her?) Do you use the detergent that smells like…dudes?! (You should: it’s awesome.) When you ax-murder someone, do YOU go home & have sex with your husband? Come for the coquettish exuberance. Stay for Merie’s horrifying doctor story that sends Becky’s brain into screensaver mode. Sources for this episode include PopSugar. Texas Monthly. Local Profile. In & Around. further sources:https://soapboxie.com/government/Betty-Gore-Candy-Montgomery https://www.dallasobserver.com/arts/an-intrepid-couple-explores-the-romantic-highs-of-dallas-lowest-motels-9136882

In this week’s podcast episode, Becky & Merie take on real-life camping horror stories, including the Cowden family massacre and the Wells Gray Park murders. Along the way, they answer the burning questions you didn’t know you had, like: If you get the haircut that shows off your muscles, should you go camping then? (hint: no.) Is Merie going to be grizzly man or grizzly woman? How did Becky narrowly avoid causing herself to get serial killed on the Appalachian Trail? And how many times do your pod-coasts say the word “Appalachian” without actually covering any murders that happened there? Does your water list cancer as the first ingredient? Who wants to be part of the pilot episode of our new romantic matchmaking show, “90 Day(s) till Parole Fiancee?” Come for the haircut-based marriage advice. Stay for the plans for a girls’ trip to Chernobyl.

The notorious & terrifying serial killer Kenneth Allen McDuff has the dubious distinction of two things: having TWO death row numbers AND being this podcast’s first episode ever to feature just one murderer. In this episode, Becky & Merie also answer the burning questions you didn’t know you had, like: Just how did this guy become a serial killer when his middle name isn’t Lee or Dale or Wayne? Does Becky & Merie’s friendship hang in the balance over the brilliant and hilarious TV show Ted Lasso? Is Merie actually Becky’s weird email blog stalker? (You can subscribe with a real email address here!) Do YOU remember the last time you prowled around asking people to have sex with you? Neither does Becky. It’s been a while. Does Merie FINALLY drop an F-bomb in this episode?! Who is the one serial killer Merie & Becky REALLY don’t like? (As opposed to the ones they…DO like?!!) Whose new email address is [email protected]?  How often did Becky or Merie stop going to their final exams and start murdering instead?  Please subscribe to Texas Monthly. Do it NOW.

Be sure to visit Urban Owl for adorable home decor. Get 20% off by using our special code NowFearThis. In this week’s podcast episode, Becky & Merie take on some creepy disappearances. Cherrie Mahan, Phoenix Coldon, and Suzie Streeter, Sherill Levitt & Stacy McCall - AKA the “Springfield Three” - get the NFT! treatment. Along the way, Becky & Merie address the burning questions you didn’t know you had, like: Why did this episode almost get named, “Tampons are for Promiscuous Women?” What t-shirts will cause Dateline to NOT describe Merie & Becky as “innocent” victims when they up and disappear one day? Why do your podcoasts need a safeword? And why the hell is theirs related to…virginity?! Why is Becky threatening to go up to the deli counter while wearing no pants? Anyone want some KY3? Us, either. Have YOU heard nice things about Joplin, MO? (We love you, Joplin, and invite everyone to contribute to the revitalization of your downtown.)  Come to learn which of your hosts is a cross between Nancy Reagan & The Cure. Stay for Becky’s impersonation of a judgmental medical examiner. Please support the Black and Missing Foundation. Becky’s blog about snarky tees can be found here: https://www.veraciousvoyager.com

We’re taking a break but NOT consciously uncoupling. For the next little while, your pod-coasts will be taking a breather from new episodes. But this episode STILL has the trademark snark, cursing and dishing on MURDER you have come to expect. So when NFT! comes back, you can look forward to these and more getting the Now Fear This! treatment: Brendan Dassey. Chad Daybell and Lori Vallow. NXIVM and India Oxenberg. Heaven’s Gate. The Lake Waco murders. Darlie Routier. Candy Montgomery. Kenneth Allen McDuff. Golden State Killer. Not to mention: Brainwashing. Cutls. False confessions. And, what will you NOT hear your podcoasts talk about? We’re (not) looking at you, bored and completely uninterested: Jodi Arias, Casey Anthony, and David Koresh. And don’t forget those burning questions you didn’t know you had, like: IS there a Superbad vortex? When you start your doomsday sex cult, would you do that in…Idaho? Does the gorgeous and talented Tamryn Hall listen to our show? No, seriously. Could someone tell her to please listen? We ❤️ her. How come Merie doesn’t think the Staircase guy is guilty?! Can Becky stop insulting Chip and Jojo JUST FOR ONE DAMNED EPISODE?! Read the brilliant I’ll be Gone In the Dark. Do it now. See you soon!!!!!!

In this week’s podcast episode, Becky and Merie take on murder plots: real and imagined, online and face-to-face, “successful” and unsuccessful. Ted and Corey Shaughnessy, John Michael Musbach, Wanda Holloway, and Dalia Dippolito get the NFT! treatment. Along the way, your hosts address burning questions you didn’t know you had, like: Who is it that spoke good English and was beautifully attired? And is she 5000% sure she wants to kill someone? Wanna go with your podcoasts to a drug cartel hangout just because they’ve got good tequila? If your hit man doesn’t follow through, do you ask for a refund? Why do stupid murder plots give Becky hope for humanity’s future? Is that cheesecake or cocaine? Do you bring your dayplanner to your pre-med murder along with a sticky note of who hired you to do it? If you want to hire the Boats and Hos Prestige Worldwide Sicilian International Hitwomen, either “Pm us” (?) or slide into our DMs. Come for the Dark Nordstrom. Stay for Merie’s failed attempt at starting a drug ring with Oxycontin. Sources for this episode include: The Austin-American Statesman. CBS Austin. Info Security Magazine.

This week’s podcast episode finds Becky and Merie exploring the phenomenon called Satanic Panic, its victims (Yoga; the West Memphis 3; McMartin Preschool workers, not the children; yoga; Ouija boards; rock music; Dungeons & Dragons…), and its connection to QAnon and conspiracy theories of today. Along the way they address the burning questions you didn’t know you had, like: How would Merie’s hairstyle have caused her to be the first suspect if somebody had been murdered at her church? If you said you were flushed down a toilet and came out the other side, would the police believe you? Whose weekend plans include a car wash, a game of “naked movie star” AND a hot air balloon ride? Does Becky’s repeated use of a name accidentally summon Satan? What word does Merie repeat so much that Becky tries ASMR to get her to stop? If you play this episode backwards, what secret messages do you get? Come for the spiritual dinners. Stay for the fart threats. Bonus points for whoever catches Becky’s unattributed “Friends” quoting. Sources for this episode include: The Austin-American Statesman. CBS News. ABC 7 Chicago. Texas Monthly and Texas Monthly.

This week’s podcast episode finds Becky and Merie trading babysitting & housesitting horror stories, including murder that is both solved (Cassie Stoddart) and unsolved (Janett Christman). Along the way they address the burning questions you didn’t know you had, like:  Where does babysitting land on Now Fear This’s Fear-o-meter? Who has read the book version of Eyes Wide Shut? If you’re not answering Merie’s texts, are you in jail? And, what kind of grade will you get on that speech? How did Merie survive her older sister’s babysitting? Is our new theme song going to be, “I hate you because you’re so shitty” and who will write the melody? Before murdering someone, should you ask yourself if you’re too dumb to do it? (Hint: yes!) Don’t be scared if Merie asks how you would cover up the perfect murder. She’s asking for a friend. Video of the 2 murderers can be found here. Sources for this episode include the following: Medium.com. thecriminaljournal.com.

In this week’s podcast episode, Becky and Merie discuss the terrifying and sometimes deadly phenomenon known as road rage. Along the way, they address the burning questions you didn’t know you had, like: How did Merie’s margarita needs not only ruin Thanksgiving, but also get her featured on the evening news? Why is Merie going to go into her safe room and never come out? How DO you talk to your kitty cats about gun safety? Does 10 years in prison for road rage murder teach you a lesson? (or…Florida?) Don’t you feel like yelling “I gotta be me!” when someone is stopping you from being…kind? Come for the spontaneous Hall & Oates karaoke. Stay for the shopping cart rules. Please go to Big Waves and read about the Bigelow family’s story and gun locks. Becky’s piece on road rage can be found on www.veraciousvoyager.com.

***Trigger alert/content warning: This episode includes graphic descriptions of sexual assault, especially related to college and  parties and acquaintance rape. Please visit the NSVRC.org for help, information, resources, and support. As April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month, this week’s podcast episode finds Becky and Merie diving headlong into the world of college parties, alcohol, consent, rape, and revenge, with the Oscar-nominated movie Promising Young Woman taking center stage. Along the way they address the burning questions you didn’t know you had, like: Can a sports bra cause you to injure one of your lats? Also, what is the exact location of a lat and how could anyone possibly know that? Why does Merie keep trying to give Becky a stroke?  Why is Becky finally inspired to reference her blog, veraciousvoyager.com? Is the state legislature of Minnesota ever going to come to its senses about this issue? And same goes for Hollywood… Do people really go to the laundry room and NOT expect to be molested? (hint: YES, you moron.) What pickup line makes Becky want to commit a Promising Young Woman-type act? What is Merie threatening to draw on Becky’s face the next time she’s passed out? What are the verrrrrry explicit directions Becky gives to one particular writer from the National Review as for what he can do to himself? Come for the ladies’ athletic wear terror. Stay for the ways that you, too, can stop yourself from raping someone. (hint: don’t do it.) Sources for this episode include:  Becky’s Veracious Voyager blogs like this one on rape prevention. 9gag.com’s Rape prevention checklist for dudes. Washington Post.

In this week’s podcast episode, Becky and Merie discuss some Netflix religious-based crime documentaries, featuring (the what-in-the-actual-fuck , mind-melting) Abducted in Plain Sight and A Murder Among Mormons. Along the way, they address burning questions you didn’t know you had, like: Should I skip the first 5 minutes if I am really fucking tired of these 2 women talking about losing weight? (hint: YES!) In what way is Merie’s husband like a pimp? And why didn’t she order him to tell someone that she doesn’t order him around? Should you listen to the ladies’ interpretation of the King James Bible? (And, on that note, when was it that Jesus drop the mic?) Who wants first dibs on a “Team White Salamander” t-shirt? How about reverse engineering the story of the Garden of Eden? Why does Merie request that Becky make weird noises with her microphone?  Come for Merie’s universal password. Stay for a salamander finding a Dr. Pepper in the woods. Sources for this episode include: A Vanity Fair article. Forbes’s analysis of LDS’s connection to Abducted in Plain Sight. MSN. Grunge.com.

This week’s episode finds Becky and Merie diving headlong into the confounding world of urban myths and internet lore, with Slender Man taking center stage. Along the way they address the burning questions you didn’t know you had, like: Why was Merie the only woman amongst a bunch of nerdy, sweaty guys for 2 hours? Which star of Supernatural should fear Becky’s undying devotion to him? (Hint: she’s a Dean girl!) Can you really get Merie to do pretty much anything you ask just by telling her how awesome she is? (Hint: Yes!) How many calories are burned from attempting to stab someone to death? Which one of you is on Becky’s list of people to sacrifice so she can become a proxy to Slender Man? How did Merie narrowly avoid being the Madame of a sex slavery brothel? Is Morgan & Tenille a new band whose first hit will be “Slenderman” sung to the tune of “Rocket Man?” What latex-based fetish documentary may or may not feature Becky or Merie? Which love scene in a movie might just be the sexiest non-sex scene ever? (Hint: Chris Evans & Anna Ferris!) Come for the moth talk. Stay for the love language. The awesome show Supernatural’s #Thinman episode can be found on Netflix here. (Prepare to be creeped the F out!) Sources on Slender Man for this episode include: Cosmo. Reuters. Vulture. Washington Post. The Sun. Info on the Mandela Effect can be found here.  

In this week’s podcast episode, Becky and Merie talk all about fathers who commit crimes and the children who face the consequences, featuring the horrible cases of Joseph Fritzl, Steven Pladl and Joseph Kallinger. Along the way, they address burning questions you didn’t know you had, like: Who wants to invest in their underpants-free “bottomless” bar, Cooter’s? Anyone want to apply to be the panty check person? Whom do the girls plan to sue for adultery? If you get invited to a wedding where someone's marrying their own father, should you just just RSVP no? (hint: yes!!!!!!) What is that unidentifiable glop in Merie’s microwave? What exactly do fairy elves from the woods and unicorn rainbow farts smell like? Come for the floral chemical smell. Stay for the Cooter’s menu options.

This week’s podcast episode has Becky and Merie dealing with the Youtube craze known as ASMR. What the f**k is that, you ask?! (Becky, too! Listen to learn and laugh your ass off.) Along the way, your pod-coasts address the burning questions you didn’t know you had, like: Why is Merie threatening to take Becky to a cabin in New Mexico for a bubble bath? Just how many grams ARE there in a pint of vodka? (And how could anyone possibly know that?!) What the hell is the Bread Face Effect and why is Becky going to be dead because of it? Which of your pod-coasts will role play a whispering Teletubby? Stay to the end to hear ideas for what Merie can do with an olive focaccia loaf. (Also: Didn't we already deal with the brain orgasms?)