Your Weirdest Fears

Going to the bathroom isn't a big deal to most people but for those who suffer from paruresis, peeing in public can cause major anxiety. In this episode, we break down the disorder, how it interferes with major life activities like work and dating, and offer tips to get over it. Guests: Dan Rocker, President of the International Paruresis Association and licensed therapist Credits: Host: Larry Mullins Producers: Dempsey Pillot and Jill Webb Audio Engineer: Anddy Egan-Thorpe Managing Producer of Podcasts: Femi Redwood

Elijah doesn't mind the color green, but he goes out of his way to avoid eating green foods - especially vegetables. He's scared that one day he will bite into a salad and it'll "poison" him. Is his fear rooted in truth though? On this week's episode of "Your Weirdest Fears," host Larry Mullins sits down with food phobia specialist Felix Economakis to find out! You can learn more about Felix, the TV show he currently consults on and all his other work here. Host: Larry Mullins Producers: Jill Webb and Dempsey Pillot Audio Engineer: Anddy Egan-Thorpe Managing Producer of Podcasts: Femi Redwood If you have a weird fear you’d like to share, submit it to YourWeirdestFears@audacy.com for a chance to be on the show!

Molly is mortified by buttons. She tells us that when she was a little girl she nearly choked on one. Ever since the incident, she's gone out of her way to avoid the small items. Surprisingly, she's not alone. On this week's episode of "Your Weirdest Fears," host Larry Mullins chats with author and journalist Kate Summerscale. Having just written a book about phobias - and the fear of buttons specifically - she offers her insight. Listen as she breaks down what the fear really indicates and how to overcome it! You can learn more about Kate and her new book, "The Book of Phobias and Manias: A History of Obsession," here. Host: Larry Mullins Producers: Jill Webb and Dempsey Pillot Audio Engineer: Anddy Egan-Thorpe Managing Producer of Podcasts: Femi Redwood If you have a weird fear you’d like to share, submit it to YourWeirdestFears@audacy.com for a chance to be on the show!

Heather says her biggest fear is a snake slithering up the sewage system and biting her while she’s sitting on a toilet. While she’s yet to experience that specific situation, she did encounter a rat in her toilet a few years ago. This only amplified her terror. How common is it for any creature to make its way into your toilet bowl? On this episode of Your Weirdest Fears, host Larry Mullins sits down with pest control expert Eddie Marco to find out. With over two decades of experience, and having dealt with a rat in his own toilet a few years back, Eddie explains why it happens, and what to do in the event that you find your toilet clogged with an unwanted guest. You can learn more about Eddie's pest control business here. Host: Larry Mullins Producers: Jill Webb and Dempsey Pillot Audio Engineer: Anddy Egan-Thorpe Managing Producer of Podcasts: Femi Redwood If you have a weird fear you’d like to share, submit it to YourWeirdestFears@audacy.com for a chance to be on the show!

Anna is afraid of seahorses. She says it all started during a normal visit to the aquarium. The mere site of the mini creatures made her freeze. Ever since then, she can't even think about them without going numb. Does she see something in seahorses that no one else can? On this week's episode of "Your Weirdest Fears," host Larry Mullins sits down with marine biologist and seahorse expert Dr. Lucy Woodhall to find out if these underwater animals are really as harmless as they seem. You can learn more about Dr. Woodhall and her research at the organization Project Seahorse here. Host: Larry Mullins Producers: Jill Webb Audio Engineers: Anddy Egan-Thorpe and Dempsey Pillot Managing Producer of Podcasts: Femi Redwood If you have a weird fear you’d like to share, submit it to YourWeirdestFears@audacy.com for a chance to be on the show!

Gregg Giannotti, AKA Gio, is the co-host of one of the most popular sport radio shows in the nation, Boomer and Gio. And while Gio isn't afraid to go head to head with anyone in the studio - he's deathly afraid of volcanoes. He worries that the dormant super-volcano at Yellowstone National Park will erupt at any moment and send civilization into an apocalyptic "volcanic winter." This week we sit down with Gio and avid adventurer George Kourounis. George has spent a lot of time in volcanoes so he's the perfect person to help Gio get over his fear. Find out more about George's work here. Be sure to listen to Boomer and Gio weekday mornings on WFAN. Host: Larry Mullins Producers: Jill Webb and Dempsey Pillot Audio Engineer: Anddy Egan-Thorpe Managing Producer of Podcasts: Femi Redwood If you have a weird fear you’d like to share, submit it to YourWeirdestFears@audacy.com for a chance to be on the show!

Jessenia has always been afraid of latex balloons. As a mom, she says it's difficult to take her kids to birthday parties because she knows that they'll be waiting for her. And it's more than their texture, or that sound they make when they rub against another surface. Instead, it's the small possibility of one popping and that anxiety-inducing blast that happens as a result. While Jessenia's fear sounds unique, it's actually quite common. It's called globophobia. On this week's episode of "Your Weirdest Fears," host Larry Mullins sits down with a former counselor to discuss it. Martin Burridge may no longer treat people for their fears, but he runs a successful YouTube channel where he likes to talk about how certain phobias manifest themselves as well as how to cure them. Listen as he and Larry break down globophobia and determine why some have a hard time of letting those lightweight objects go. You can check out Martin's YouTube channel here. Host: Larry Mullins Producers: Jill Webb and Dempsey Pillot Audio Engineer: Anddy Egan-Thorpe Managing Producer of Podcasts: Femi Redwood If you have a weird fear you’d like to share, submit it to YourWeirdestFears@audacy.com for a chance to be on the show!

Christine is scared she'll spontaneously combust. While most might think it's a fictional concept, there are some real-life documented cases of it happening... But what are the odds of it happening to you? On this week's episode, host Larry Mullins sits down with writer, investigator, and self-proclaimed skeptic Benjamin Radford to illuminate the truth about spontaneous human combustion. You can read more about Benjamin and his work here. Host: Larry Mullins Producers: Jill Webb and Dempsey Pillot Audio Engineer: Anddy Egan-Thorpe Managing Producer of Podcasts: Femi Redwood If you have a weird fear you’d like to share, submit it to YourWeirdestFears@audacy.com for a chance to be on the show!

HB is afraid of giant statues. He says that lately has fear has become so bad that is has manifested it in his dreams. Once of the more vivid dreams he's had involved him being left alone in a dark cavern with nothing but a flashlight, where he's forced to find those dark-faced figures all alone. He knows it's silly, but surprisingly he's not alone. On this episode of Your Weirdest Fears, host Larry Mullins sits down with Dr. Kevin Chapman. A licensed clinical psychologist, Dr. Chapman has dealt with this fear in many patients. He helps Larry understand how common the fear is, and explains whether or not there's a larger anxiety looming above those statues. You can learn more about Dr. Chapman and his work here. Producers: Jill Webb and Dempsey Pillot Audio Engineer: Anddy Egan-Thorpe Managing Producer of Podcasts: Femi Redwood If you have a weird fear you’d like to share, submit it to YourWeirdestFears@audacy.com for a chance to be on the show!

Yadariselt hates pigeons. She hates their feathers, their beaks, and most importantly she hates their unpredictability. As a New York native, however, they’re hard to avoid. But how dangerous are they really? On this episode of Your Weirdest Fears, host Larry Mullins sits down with phobia expert Christopher Paul Jones. Throughout the years he’s cured people of arachnophobia, claustrophobia, and even ornithophobia which fear of pigeons falls under. Chris helps Larry understand how common the fear is, and explains whether or not these birds are anything more than NYC’s natural nuisances. Learn more about Christopher Paul Jones and his work here. Producers: Jill Webb and Dempsey Pillot Audio Engineer: Anddy Egan-Thorpe Managing Producer of Podcasts: Femi Redwood If you have a weird fear you’d like to share, submit it to YourWeirdestFears@audacy.com for a chance to be on the show!

Peter is mortified by The Grinch. Yes, the green and gross menace from Dr. Seuss' book "How The Grinch Stole Christmas." He says that, as a child, he would have vivid dreams of the character eating him. Despite having a change of heart and a happy ending at the end of his story, he still fears that the character will somehow come to life, find him and kidnap him now as an adult. But what about this character makes him so terrifying? On this week's episode of "Your Weirdest Fears," host Larry Mullins speaks with literary expert Dr.Philip Nel to find out. The leading authority on all things relating to children's books - and Dr. Seuss - Dr. Nel explains the history of the character, as well as why he remains a scary image for some all these year later. You can check out Dr. Nel's work here. Host: Larry Mullins Producers: Jill Webb and Dempsey Pillot Audio Engineer: Anddy Egan-Thorpe Managing Producer of Podcasts: Femi Redwood If you have a weird fear you’d like to share, submit it to YourWeirdestFears@audacy.com for a chance to be on the show!

Mike is absolutely terrified of cat-human hybrids. It all began with a trip to see the Broadway musical "Cats" in the 6th grade. What should have been a joyous memory became a lifelong nightmare. Now, he acknowledges that these creatures are purely fictional; however, he is also aware that some people modify themselves to look like animals and he still worries he may bump into one on the street. On this episode of "Your Weirdest Fears," listen as host Larry Mullins sits down with Erik Sprague a.k.a The Lizardman. A self-proclaimed "freak" known for his own body modifications, he breaks the down the stigma surrounding the practice, shares his own experiences with judgement, and provides professional insight as to why some people just can't wrap their heads around the concept of animal-human hybrids. To learn more about The Lizardman, be sure to visit his website here. Host: Larry Mullins Producers: Jill Webb and Dempsey Pillot Audio Engineer: Anddy Egan-Thorpe Managing Producer of Podcasts: Femi Redwood If you have a weird fear you’d like to share, submit it to YourWeirdestFears@audacy.com for a chance to be on the show!

Lee is terrified of coming home after a long day of work and finding their pet cat dead. It has nothing to do with the fact that they wouldn’t know how to dispose of the animal, but rather the idea that their cat may have been suffering all alone in its final moments and they couldn’t do anything to help. It’s probably something every pet owner fears, or at least thinks about from time to time. But how often does it actually happen? Are there signs you should look for in your pet to make sure they aren’t already experiencing symptoms of an undiagnosed illness? On this episode of “Your Weirdest Fears”, host Larry Mullins sits down with Veterinarian and Internal Medicine Specialist Dr. Lauren Adelman to find out. To learn more about pet safety and veterinary medicine, be sure to check out Dr. Adelman’s podcast (or “pawcast” as she calls it) here. Host: Larry Mullins Producers: Jill Webb and Dempsey Pillot Audio Engineer: Anddy Egan-Thorpe Managing Producer of Podcasts: Femi Redwood If you have a weird fear you’d like to share, submit it to YourWeirdestFears@audacy.com for a chance to be on the show!

Sharon is afraid of being called a “Karen.” She’s so afraid of this that she doesn’t even ask for the manager when she experiences bad service. And she’s not alone! In this episode, we connect with author and sociologist Dr. Jessie Daniels. Dr. Daniels is an expert on the internet’s manifestation of racism. She wrote a book about being called a “Karen” titled “Nice White Ladies.” She breaks down the history of the name, the stigma surrounding it, and what fear of the name says about society’s mindset and the current culture of accountability. Learn more about Dr. Daniels' work here. Host: Larry Mullins Producers: Jill Webb and Dempsey Pillot Audio Engineer: Anddy Egan-Thorpe Managing Producer of Podcasts: Femi Redwood If you have a weird fear you’d like to share, submit it to YourWeirdestFears@audacy.com for a chance to be on the show!

Joe says that they love whales. They even have a tattoo of one of their arm. However, there’s one member of the species that absolutely terrifies them: orcas (also known as killer whales). In fact, they tell us that if they had to choose between being in the water with an orca or a great white shark, they’d pick the shark. But are killer whales as deadly as their name implies? On this episode of "Your Weirdest Fears," host Larry Mullins sits down with orca expert Dr. Deborah Giles to find out. Having taken her lifelong love of sea creatures and channeling it into a career at the non-profit organization Wild Orca, Dr. Giles details how dangerous killer whales really are, and explains which underwater animals might actually pose a greater risk to mankind. To learn more about Dr. Giles and her work, be sure to visit her website here. Host: Larry Mullins Producers: Jill Webb and Dempsey Pillot Audio Engineer: Anddy Egan-Thorpe Managing Producer of Podcasts: Femi Redwood If you have a weird fear you’d like to share, submit it to YourWeirdestFears@audacy.com for a chance to be on the show!

Some people avoid walking under scaffolding because they are afraid it could come crashing down without any warning. On this episode, we meet with safety expert John Newquist to find out just how realistic this fear is. With over 30 years of experience at the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), he has an abundance of stories to share about scaffolding - and even more tips to offer about what to do should you ever find yourself caught under one that might collapse. For more safety education tips visit John's website here. Credits: Host: Larry Mullins Producers: Jill Webb and Dempsey Pillot Audio Engineer: Anddy Egan-Thorpe Executive Producer: Femi Redwood If you have a weird fear you’d like to share, submit it to YourWeirdestFears@audacy.com for a chance to be on the show!

Jane says her biggest fear is demonic possession. It’s not because she was exposed to The Exorcist too early in life, but rather because she grew up in a Russian Orthodox household. She was taught to believe that possession was possible. She even received two exorcisms as a kid. But is the concept of demonic possession as scary as the movies make it seem? What does a real exorcism entail? On this episode of Your Weirdest Fears, host Larry Mullins sits down with parapsychologist Helané Wahbeh to find out. Listen as the two break down the stigmas surrounding demonic possession and learn what you can do if you ever find yourself in the presence of spirit. To learn more about Dr. Wahbeh and her research into demonic possession check out her website here. Producers: Jill Webb and Dempsey Pillot Audio Engineer: Anddy Egan-Thorpe Managing Producer of Podcasts: Femi Redwood Host: Larry Mullins If you have a weird fear you’d like to share, submit it to YourWeirdestFears@audacy.com for a chance to be on the show!

Dan Travis says his biggest fear is getting a paper cut on his eyeball. Working in the film industry, he says there are paper signs everywhere and that he’s just bracing for the moment it happens and ocular fluid leaks everywhere. Ironically, eyeballs have always played an important role in cinema. Not just because we need our eyes to see movies, but because they have even been subjected to numerous slashings and gougings since its birth. On this episode of Your Weirdest Fears, host Larry Mullins sits down with Professor David Tolchinsky. As the founding director of Northwestern University's MFA in Writing for Screen and Stage program and a filmmaker himself, he provides some excellent insight as to where humanity’s fascination with the eye came from, as well as what the fear of eyeball trauma says about personal desires. To read more about Professor Tolchinsky's work, be sure to visit his website. Host: Larry Mullins. Producers: Jill Webb and Dempsey Pillot Audio Engineer: Anddy Egan-Thorpe Managing Producer of Podcasts: Femi Redwood If you have a weird fear you’d like to share, submit it to YourWeirdestFears@audacy.com for a chance to be on the show!

Alex Manning says that they are absolutely scared of vomit. The noise. The look. The “splash”. In fact, they avoid the subways late at night to avoid any drunk people who might inevitably hurl and refuse to sit near pits at concerts for the same reason. Now, although most people don’t like vomit, the degree to which Alex fears vomit actually has a name. It’s called emetophobia. On this episode of Your Weirdest Fears, host Larry Mullins sits down with psychotherapist Anna Christie to discuss her own experience with the illness, why it’s so common here in America, and how she teaches people to stomach their fear forever. If you or someone you know is struggling with emetophobia, you can seek help or consultation with Anna Christie here at emetophobiahelp.org. Producers: Jill Webb and Dempsey Pillot Audio Engineer: Anddy Egan-Thorpe Managing Producer of Podcasts: Femi Redwood If you have a weird fear you’d like to share, submit it to YourWeirdestFears@audacy.com for a chance to be on the show!

Aubrey says her biggest fear is accidentally chopping her finger off with a knife while cooking in the kitchen. Unlike some other fears we’ve covered, hers is statistically possible - and common. But how do we prevent knife-related accidents from happening when knives are the most essential tool in our lives? On this episode of Your Weirdest Fears, host Larry Mullins sits down with knife expert Jay Fisher to find out. With over two decades of experience as a cutler, he’s as sharp as a knife himself, and shares an abundance of information and anecdotes about how to use knives properly and how dangerous they actually are in the kitchen. For more guidance on proper knife use, you can check out Jay's website: https://www.jayfisher.com/ Producers: Jill Webb and Dempsey Pillot Audio Engineer: Anddy Egan-Thorpe Managing Producer of Podcasts: Femi Redwood If you have a weird fear you’d like to share, submit it to YourWeirdestFears@audacy.com for a chance to be on the show!