The StickyBeak

Monika O'Hanlon

In this weekly series, journalist Monika O'Hanlon speaks with extraordinary people and delves into interesting topics and historical events. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  1. Humans Almost Went Extinct — DNA Reveals How Close We Came

    2 DAYS AGO

    Humans Almost Went Extinct — DNA Reveals How Close We Came

    At several points in our deep past, humanity came dangerously close to disappearing altogether. Using the latest genetic research, this episode explores the moments when our ancestors were reduced to astonishingly small numbers — and how scientists uncovered these ancient population crashes hidden inside our DNA. From dramatic climate shifts to evolutionary bottlenecks, this is the story of how close humans came to extinction… and how we survived. A HUGE thank you to Dean for requesting this episode - if you've got an idea for an episode please get in touch! All my contact info is below. This episode was brought to you by Tüt, toilet lid stickers to zhuzh up your toot. Because every throne needs a crown. https://www.etsy.com/shop/tutdeco/ 🎉 Big news! The StickyBeak will be returning to two episodes a week! Wednesdays: Your regular deep dive into the weird, wonderful, and wonderfully strange stories from around the world.Mondays: A brand-new episode all about YOUR stories — the wild, funny, and outrageous confessions you send in.Got a story to share? Be a StickyBeak and submit it here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScK_D0b6Cp7WAKDq4thfd4EZNrXJPba1C2r9VZkxptxbYmJtA/viewform! 🦜 Got an Idea for the Podcast? I’d love to hear from you! If there’s a topic you’d like me to explore or someone you think would make a great guest, flick me a message. EMAIL: thestickybeakpodcast@outlook.com INSTAGRAM: @thestickybeakpodcast TIKTOK: @thestickybeakpodcast FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/listen.with.mon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    19 min
  2. The Swiss Sport Fought in Sawdust — and Won With a Cow

    3 FEB

    The Swiss Sport Fought in Sawdust — and Won With a Cow

    Schwingen is one of Switzerland’s oldest and most beloved traditions — a form of wrestling fought in sawdust, governed by ritual, and rooted in rural life. In this documentary-style episode, Mon traces its history from Alpine pastures to national festivals, and examines how women are reshaping a sport built on centuries of tradition. A HUGE thank you to Vroni Brun for sharing her experiences. This episode was brought to you by Tüt, toilet lid stickers to zhuzh up your toot. Because every throne needs a crown. https://www.etsy.com/shop/tutdeco/ 🎉 Big news! The StickyBeak will be returning to two episodes a week! Wednesdays: Your regular deep dive into the weird, wonderful, and wonderfully strange stories from around the world.Mondays: A brand-new episode all about YOUR stories — the wild, funny, and outrageous confessions you send in.Got a story to share? Be a StickyBeak and submit it here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScK_D0b6Cp7WAKDq4thfd4EZNrXJPba1C2r9VZkxptxbYmJtA/viewform! 🦜 Got an Idea for the Podcast? I’d love to hear from you! If there’s a topic you’d like me to explore or someone you think would make a great guest, flick me a message. EMAIL: thestickybeakpodcast@outlook.com INSTAGRAM: @thestickybeakpodcast TIKTOK: @thestickybeakpodcast FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/listen.with.mon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    26 min
  3. When Women Are the Client: Australia’s First Male Escort Agency

    27 JAN

    When Women Are the Client: Australia’s First Male Escort Agency

    What happens when women become the client — and men become the product? In this episode of The StickyBeak, host Monika O’Hanlon takes a curious, documentary-style look inside Her Confidant, Australia’s first male escort agency, founded by Anna Grosman. Through Anna’s story, we explore sex work from a rarely examined angle: female desire, emotional labour, intimacy, and what people are really paying for when they hire an escort. With warmth and curiosity this episode looks at how sex work intersects with power, pleasure, loneliness and stigma — and why conversations about women’s sexuality are still so often uncomfortable. Note: This episode is told largely from a heteronormative perspective. Monika acknowledges the gaps — and invites listeners to help shape a future deep dive into women-on-women pleasure and queer sex work. Thanks to Anna Grosman for jumping on the pod. You can find out more about Her Confidant here: https://herconfidant.com.au/ This episode was brought to you by Tüt, toilet lid stickers to zhuzh up your toot. Because every throne needs a crown. https://www.etsy.com/shop/tutdeco/ 🎉 Big news! The StickyBeak will be returning to two episodes a week! Wednesdays: Your regular deep dive into the weird, wonderful, and wonderfully strange stories from around the world.Mondays: A brand-new episode all about YOUR stories — the wild, funny, and outrageous confessions you send in.Got a story to share? Be a StickyBeak and submit it here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScK_D0b6Cp7WAKDq4thfd4EZNrXJPba1C2r9VZkxptxbYmJtA/viewform! 🦜 Got an Idea for the Podcast? I’d love to hear from you! If there’s a topic you’d like me to explore or someone you think would make a great guest, flick me a message. EMAIL: thestickybeakpodcast@outlook.com INSTAGRAM: @thestickybeakpodcast TIKTOK: @thestickybeakpodcast FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/listen.with.mon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    19 min
  4. Inside Juggalo Culture: Face Paint, Faygo, Family — and the FBI

    20 JAN

    Inside Juggalo Culture: Face Paint, Faygo, Family — and the FBI

    Faces painted black and white. Faygo flying through the air. A chant of “woop woop” echoing through the crowd. But beyond the chaos and the headlines lies a subculture built on belonging, identity, and community. In this episode of The StickyBeak, Monika O’Hanlon dives into the misunderstood world of Juggalos — exploring the origins of Insane Clown Posse, the mythos of the Dark Carnival, the infamous FBI gang classification, and what it really means to be part of “The Family.” Featuring firsthand perspectives from within the scene, this is a curious, compassionate look at a culture often reduced to stereotypes — and what it reveals about outsiders, stigma, and finding connection in unexpected places. 🎧 Whoop whoop… this one goes deeper than the paint. Thanks to Mack & Ezmeral'a for sharing their experiences. You can find them on Instagram here: Mack: @mrmakanhoes Ezmeral'a: @juggalo.lita This episode was brought to you by Tüt, toilet lid stickers to zhuzh up your toot. Because every throne needs a crown. https://www.etsy.com/shop/tutdeco/ 🎉 Big news! The StickyBeak will be returning to two episodes a week! Wednesdays: Your regular deep dive into the weird, wonderful, and wonderfully strange stories from around the world.Mondays: A brand-new episode all about YOUR stories — the wild, funny, and outrageous confessions you send in.Got a story to share? Be a StickyBeak and submit it here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScK_D0b6Cp7WAKDq4thfd4EZNrXJPba1C2r9VZkxptxbYmJtA/viewform! 🦜 Got an Idea for the Podcast? I’d love to hear from you! If there’s a topic you’d like me to explore or someone you think would make a great guest, flick me a message. EMAIL: thestickybeakpodcast@outlook.com INSTAGRAM: @thestickybeakpodcast TIKTOK: @thestickybeakpodcast FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/listen.with.mon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    34 min
  5. The Man Who Collects the Macabre

    13 JAN

    The Man Who Collects the Macabre

    What drives someone to collect the darkest objects imaginable? In this episode of The StickyBeak, I sit down with Nick Bowman, a collector of the macabre — and some of the artefacts we discuss genuinely caught me off guard. From rare death-related objects to controversial items involving human remains, this is a conversation that goes far beyond shock value. Nick is thoughtful, open, and deeply aware that macabre collecting isn’t for everyone — and he’s not trying to convert anyone. Instead, he helps bust common myths around the macabre collecting world, especially the misconceptions surrounding human body parts, ethics, legality, and consent. ⚠️ Content warning: This episode discusses dark and heavy topics that may not be suitable for all listeners. If you’re curious about death culture, taboo collections, or the psychology behind why we’re drawn to the macabre, this is a fascinating and unexpectedly thoughtful conversation. Thanks to Nick for being so open, you can find on the following... INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/nickchopper_?igsh=Yml4cG5vY2FibHY0 TIKTOK: @nickchopper_ This episode was brought to you by Tüt, toilet lid stickers to zhuzh up your toot. Because every throne needs a crown. https://www.etsy.com/shop/tutdeco/ 🎉 Big news! The StickyBeak is about to go to two episodes a week! Wednesdays: Your regular deep dive into the weird, wonderful, and wonderfully strange stories from around the world.Mondays: A brand-new episode all about YOUR stories — the wild, funny, and outrageous confessions you send in.Got a story to share? Be a StickyBeak and submit it here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScK_D0b6Cp7WAKDq4thfd4EZNrXJPba1C2r9VZkxptxbYmJtA/viewform! 🦜 Got an Idea for the Podcast? I’d love to hear from you! If there’s a topic you’d like me to explore or someone you think would make a great guest, flick me a message. EMAIL: thestickybeakpodcast@outlook.com INSTAGRAM: @thestickybeakpodcast TIKTOK: @thestickybeakpodcast FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/listen.with.mon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    34 min
  6. Boobs, Bras & Bulletproof Myths: The Strange History of the Bra

    6 JAN

    Boobs, Bras & Bulletproof Myths: The Strange History of the Bra

    From ancient Minoan boob-lifters to bullet bras, biohazard lingerie, and a surprisingly famous handkerchief hack — this episode dives chest-first into the strange, political, and occasionally ridiculous history of the bra. Host Monika O’Hanlon unhooks the truth behind corsets and control, wartime steel rationing, Wonderbra marketing stunts, feminist myths, and bras designed to do far more than just lift and separate — including ones that double as gas masks. This is a cultural history of lingerie, feminism, fashion, and obsession: who bras were really made for, what they’ve symbolised over time, and why we’re still arguing about them today. It’s a story of cleavage, control, rebellion — and yes, just the right amount of jiggle. Thanks to Mel for requesting this episode. If you’ve got a strange, curious, or controversial topic you want investigated next, get in touch via the contact details below. This episode was brought to you by Tüt, toilet lid stickers to zhuzh up your toot. Because every throne needs a crown. https://www.etsy.com/shop/tutdeco/ 🎉 Big news! The StickyBeak is about to go to two episodes a week! Wednesdays: Your regular deep dive into the weird, wonderful, and wonderfully strange stories from around the world.Mondays: A brand-new episode all about YOUR stories — the wild, funny, and outrageous confessions you send in.Got a story to share? Be a StickyBeak and submit it here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScK_D0b6Cp7WAKDq4thfd4EZNrXJPba1C2r9VZkxptxbYmJtA/viewform! 🦜 Got an Idea for the Podcast? I’d love to hear from you! If there’s a topic you’d like me to explore or someone you think would make a great guest, flick me a message. EMAIL: thestickybeakpodcast@outlook.com INSTAGRAM: @thestickybeakpodcast TIKTOK: @thestickybeakpodcast FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/listen.with.mon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    13 min
  7. Autosexuality: Why Some People Are Attracted to Themselves

    30/12/2025

    Autosexuality: Why Some People Are Attracted to Themselves

    What if the most meaningful romantic or sexual connection you could have… was with yourself? In this episode of The StickyBeak, Mon explores autosexuality and autoromanticism — identities where attraction and intimacy are self-directed. Hear from Ghia Vitale as she shares what self-romance really looks like, the misconceptions she faces, and how these identities challenge the way we think about love, connection, and desire. Listen now to discover a new perspective on intimacy and self-love. Autosexuality 101: http://www.quailbellmagazine.com/the-real-20/autosexuality-101-the-autosexual-cheat-sheet A massive thank you to Ghia Vitale. Keep up with her happenings on Instagram @angel0fthe0dd Check out her website: https://angeloftheodd.com Quail Bell Magazine: http://www.quailbellmagazine.com This episode was brought to you by Tüt, toilet lid stickers to zhuzh up your toot. Because every throne needs a crown. https://www.etsy.com/shop/tutdeco/ Got an Idea for the Podcast? I’d love to hear from you! If there’s a topic you’d like me to explore or someone you think would make a great guest, flick me a message. EMAIL: thestickybeakpodcast@outlook.com INSTAGRAM: @thestickybeakpodcast TIKTOK: @thestickybeakpodcast FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/listen.with.mon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    22 min
  8. Unwrapping Christmas: The Weird, Wild Origins of the Holidays

    23/12/2025

    Unwrapping Christmas: The Weird, Wild Origins of the Holidays

    This week on The StickyBeak we’re unwrapping the weird, wild, and wonderful origins of the holidays. Ever wondered where Santa really came from — or what people in Iceland, Italy, and Venezuela get up to this time of year? Get ready for sleigh rides through history, myth, and a few festive surprises. 🎅 Discover how Saint Nicholas became the jolly Santa we know today. 🌍 Peek inside the world’s strangest (and sweetest) holiday traditions — from candlelit boats to roller-skating to church. 🕎 Explore the light and legacy of Hanukkah, the Jewish Festival of Lights. 🎄 Learn how Kwanzaa began and how it continues to celebrate African heritage and unity. Whether you’re stringing up tinsel, spinning a dreidel, or just here for the snacks and nostalgia — this festive StickyBeak special uncovers the fascinating roots of the season and the stories that connect us all. This episode was brought to you by Tüt, toilet lid stickers to zhuzh up your toot. Because every throne needs a crown. https://www.etsy.com/shop/tutdeco/ 🎉 Big news! The StickyBeak is about to go to two episodes a week! Wednesdays: Your regular deep dive into the weird, wonderful, and wonderfully strange stories from around the world.Mondays: A brand-new episode all about YOUR stories — the wild, funny, and outrageous confessions you send in.Got a story to share? Be a StickyBeak and submit it here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScK_D0b6Cp7WAKDq4thfd4EZNrXJPba1C2r9VZkxptxbYmJtA/viewform! 🦜 Got an Idea for the Podcast? I’d love to hear from you! If there’s a topic you’d like me to explore or someone you think would make a great guest, flick me a message. EMAIL: thestickybeakpodcast@outlook.com INSTAGRAM: @thestickybeakpodcast TIKTOK: @thestickybeakpodcast FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/listen.with.mon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    13 min
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4.6
out of 5
73 Ratings

About

In this weekly series, journalist Monika O'Hanlon speaks with extraordinary people and delves into interesting topics and historical events. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Information

  • Creator
    Monika O'Hanlon
  • Years Active
    2020 - 2026
  • Episodes
    124
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    Copyright © 2020, Monika O'Hanlon, All Rights Reserved
  • Show Website
    The StickyBeak

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