Kat Has Questions

Kat Chesnut

Kat dives into the real stories that sound made up — from strange history and psychology to unsolved mysteries, true crime, urban legends, and the weird corners of the internet. Thoughtful, funny, and just the right amount of unhinged.

  1. 2 DAYS AGO

    25 - The Disappearance of Brandon Swanson | The 47-Minute Phone Call

    On May 14, 2008, nineteen-year-old Brandon Swanson called his parents after his car went into a ditch on a rural Minnesota road. He believed he was just outside the town of Lynd and asked them to come pick him up. For the next 47 minutes, Brandon stayed on the phone with them while he walked through the dark toward what he thought were the lights of town. Then suddenly, in the middle of the conversation, Brandon said two words: “Oh, shit.” And the line went dead. Despite extensive searches, Brandon Swanson was never found. In this episode of Kat Has Questions, we reconstruct the final phone call, the search that followed, and the unanswered questions that remain in one of the most unsettling missing person cases in recent history. ⸻ About the show Kat Has Questions is a curiosity-driven podcast about real stories that sound unreal — from unsolved crimes and strange history to the quietly weird corners of human behavior. New episodes every week. ⸻ Support the Show If you’re enjoying Kat Has Questions, follow the podcast, leave a review, or send in a weird historical mystery you want me to dig into next. Support the show (Patreon): https://patreon.com/KatHasQuestions?utm_medium=unknown&utm_source=join_link&utm_campaign=creatorshare_creator&utm_content=copyLink Support the show & buy me a coffee: buymeacoffee.com/kathasquesw ⸻ Sources & Further Reading Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension. “Missing Person: Brandon Swanson.”https://dps.mn.gov The Charley Project. “Brandon Swanson.”https://charleyproject.org/case/brandon-lee-swanson The Doe Network. “Missing Person Case File: Brandon Swanson.”https://www.doenetwork.org CBS Minnesota (WCCO). Coverage of the Brandon Swanson disappearance. The Marshall Independent. Local reporting on search efforts in Yellow Medicine County. Interviews and statements from Brandon Swanson’s parents, Brian and Annette Swanson. Search reports and investigation records from Yellow Medicine County authorities. 🎵 Music: “Scrunchy” by Night Drift Licensed by Uppbeat License code: CAHWZR9T33BFXDNY ⸻ Contact 📩 kathasquestionspod@gmail.com Instagram: @KatHasQuestions

    23 min

  2. 1 APR

    24 - The Mandela Effect: Wait… That’s Not How I Remember It

    Wait… it’s not Berenstein? In this episode of Kat Has Questions, we dive into the Mandela Effect — the phenomenon where large groups of people remember events, quotes, logos, and even movies that never existed. From the Berenstain Bears to the nonexistent Sinbad genie movie, we unpack what’s really happening in our brains… and why it feels so unsettling. Is it faulty memory? Social reinforcement? Pattern completion? Or something stranger? And most importantly — what do YOU remember that apparently never happened? Send your Mandela Effects to Kat for a possible Part 2. ⸻ About the show Kat Has Questions is a curiosity-driven podcast about real stories that sound unreal — from unsolved crimes and strange history to the quietly weird corners of human behavior. New episodes every week. ⸻ Sources & Further Reading This episode references research and reporting on memory, false memory formation, and the Mandela Effect, including: - Elizabeth Loftus’ research on false memories and memory reconstruction - Daniel Schacter’s work on “The Seven Sins of Memory” - Roediger & McDermott (1995) study on how false memories are created in lab settings - Articles from Skeptical Inquirer and Frontiers in Psychology on the Mandela Effect - Snopes.com investigations into: --The “Shazaam” Sinbad genie movie --The Monopoly Man monocle - Pop culture references confirmed through official archives and film records, including: --The Berenstain Bears publication records --Kazaam (1996) starring Shaquille O’Neal --Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1937) official script (“Magic mirror on the wall”) --Official Pokémon character design history 🎵 Music: “Scrunchy” by Night Drift Licensed by Uppbeat License code: CAHWZR9T33BFXDNY ⸻ Contact 📩 kathasquestionspod@gmail.com Instagram: @KatHasQuestions Support the Show If you’re enjoying Kat Has Questions, follow the podcast, leave a review, or send in a weird historical mystery you want me to dig into next.

    17 min
  3. 23 - Dead Wrong: Part 5 - The Cost of Getting It Dead Wrong (The Pamela Hupp Case)

    25 MAR

    23 - Dead Wrong: Part 5 - The Cost of Getting It Dead Wrong (The Pamela Hupp Case)

    Dead Wrong is a five-part deep dive into one of the most shocking wrongful conviction cases in recent memory — and the woman at the center of it all. When Betsy Faria was found stabbed to death in her Missouri home in 2011, the case seemed straightforward. Her husband, Russ Faria, was quickly arrested and convicted. But almost immediately, the story began to unravel. In this five-episode arc, we follow the timeline from Betsy’s murder to Russ’s conviction, the appeals that exposed serious investigative flaws, and the growing suspicion surrounding Betsy’s close friend — Pamela Hupp. As each layer peels back, the question becomes unavoidable: How did the wrong person go to prison? And how did it take so long for anyone to stop it? ⸻ About the show Kat Has Questions is a curiosity-driven podcast about real stories that sound unreal — from unsolved crimes and strange history to the quietly weird corners of human behavior. New episodes every Wednesday. ⸻ Sources & Further Reading Primary Court Records & Legal Proceedings Missouri Court of Appeals, State of Missouri v. Russell L. Faria (2015) – Opinion overturning conviction. Missouri Courts: https://www.courts.mo.gov Lincoln County Circuit Court records – Dismissal of charges against Russell Faria (2016). St. Louis County Circuit Court records – State v. Pamela Marie Hupp (Louis Gumpenberger case, 2019 Alford plea) State v. Pamela Marie Hupp (Betsy Faria case, 2021 guilty plea and sentencing) St. Louis Post-Dispatch – Ongoing coverage of the Faria and Hupp cases (2011–2021), including: Russ Faria’s trial, appeal, and exoneration Pamela Hupp’s arrest and plea agreements Reporting on Shirley Neumann’s death and the later change of manner from “accidental” to “undetermined” https://www.stltoday.com KMOV (CBS St. Louis) – Coverage of: Russ Faria’s overturned conviction Pamela Hupp’s charges and sentencing Developments in the Shirley Neumann investigation https://www.kmov.com KSDK (NBC St. Louis) – Coverage of appeals, retrials, sentencing, and post-conviction developments.https://www.ksdk.com Associated Press – National coverage of: Pamela Hupp’s plea agreements Sentencing outcomes Developments in related investigations NBC News / Dateline NBC –“The Thing About Pam” series and related reporting on: Betsy Faria’s murder Louis Gumpenberger’s death Shirley Neumann’s casehttps://www.nbcnews.com/dateline People Magazine – Investigative summaries and timeline reporting related to the Hupp cases.https://people.com St. Louis Magazine – “The Case Against Pam Hupp”https://www.stlmag.com/longform/pam-hupp/ St. Louis County Medical Examiner records (2017) – Change in manner of death for Shirley Neumann from “Accidental” to “Undetermined.” 🎵 Music: “Scrunchy” by Night Drift Licensed by Uppbeat License code: CAHWZR9T33BFXDNY ⸻ Contact 📩 kathasquestionspod@gmail.com Instagram: @KatHasQuestions Support the Show If you’re enjoying Kat Has Questions, follow the podcast, leave a review, or send in a weird historical mystery you want me to dig into next.

    11 min
  4. 22 - Dead Wrong: Part 4 - Another Death (The Pamela Hupp Case)

    25 MAR

    22 - Dead Wrong: Part 4 - Another Death (The Pamela Hupp Case)

    Dead Wrong is a five-part deep dive into one of the most shocking wrongful conviction cases in recent memory — and the woman at the center of it all. When Betsy Faria was found stabbed to death in her Missouri home in 2011, the case seemed straightforward. Her husband, Russ Faria, was quickly arrested and convicted. But almost immediately, the story began to unravel. In this five-episode arc, we follow the timeline from Betsy’s murder to Russ’s conviction, the appeals that exposed serious investigative flaws, and the growing suspicion surrounding Betsy’s close friend — Pamela Hupp. As each layer peels back, the question becomes unavoidable: How did the wrong person go to prison? And how did it take so long for anyone to stop it? ⸻ About the show Kat Has Questions is a curiosity-driven podcast about real stories that sound unreal — from unsolved crimes and strange history to the quietly weird corners of human behavior. New episodes every week. ⸻ Sources & Further Reading Primary Sources State of Missouri v. Pamela Hupp — Charging documents (2016), arrest affidavit Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office police reports (August 2016) Autopsy report — Louis Gumpenberger Cell phone records — Pamela Hupp Surveillance footage and location data summaries Investigative evidence summaries related to staged kidnapping claims Secondary Reporting & Coverage Dateline NBC — The Thing About Pam St. Louis Post-Dispatch investigative reporting (2016) NBC News and CBS News case summaries Procedural & Legal Context National Institute of Justice — research on staged crime scenes and false reports Innocence Project — case reopening analysis following new evidence American Bar Association — standards for post-conviction review 🎵 Music: “Scrunchy” by Night Drift Licensed by Uppbeat License code: CAHWZR9T33BFXDNY ⸻ Contact 📩 kathasquestionspod@gmail.com Instagram: @KatHasQuestions Support the Show If you’re enjoying Kat Has Questions, follow the podcast, leave a review, or send in a weird historical mystery you want me to dig into next.

    14 min
  5. 21 - Dead Wrong: Part 3 - The Man They Said Did It (The Pamela Hupp Case)

    18 MAR

    21 - Dead Wrong: Part 3 - The Man They Said Did It (The Pamela Hupp Case)

    Dead Wrong is a five-part deep dive into one of the most shocking wrongful conviction cases in recent memory — and the woman at the center of it all. When Betsy Faria was found stabbed to death in her Missouri home in 2011, the case seemed straightforward. Her husband, Russ Faria, was quickly arrested and convicted. But almost immediately, the story began to unravel. In this five-episode arc, we follow the timeline from Betsy’s murder to Russ’s conviction, the appeals that exposed serious investigative flaws, and the growing suspicion surrounding Betsy’s close friend — Pamela Hupp. As each layer peels back, the question becomes unavoidable: How did the wrong person go to prison? And how did it take so long for anyone to stop it? ⸻ About the show Kat Has Questions is a curiosity-driven podcast about real stories that sound unreal — from unsolved crimes and strange history to the quietly weird corners of human behavior. New episodes every week. ⸻ Sources & Further Reading Primary Sources State of Missouri v. Russell Faria — Trial records (2013), jury verdict, and sentencing Trial transcripts — prosecution and defense arguments (direct, cross, and closing statements) Charging documents and probable cause statements Crime scene evidence summaries and forensic reports Medical examiner / autopsy report — Elizabeth “Betsy” Faria Life insurance policy records — beneficiary designation and payout documentation Trial exhibits referencing insurance policy and beneficiary change Medical records — Betsy Faria (diagnosis and treatment history) Post-conviction filings and motions Secondary Reporting & Coverage Dateline NBC — The Thing About Pam St. Louis Post-Dispatch (2013 trial and investigative coverage) Court TV / Law & Crime Network analysis NBC News and CBS News case summaries Procedural & Legal Context National Institute of Justice — research on circumstantial evidence and investigative bias Innocence Project — wrongful conviction case studies American Bar Association — jury decision-making and post-conviction review standards 🎵 Music: “Scrunchy” by Night Drift Licensed by Uppbeat License code: CAHWZR9T33BFXDNY ⸻ Contact 📩 kathasquestionspod@gmail.com Instagram: @KatHasQuestions Support the Show If you’re enjoying Kat Has Questions, follow the podcast, leave a review, or send in a weird historical mystery you want me to dig into next.

    26 min
  6. 20 - Dead Wrong: Part 2 - The Best Friend (The Pamela Hupp Case)

    11 MAR

    20 - Dead Wrong: Part 2 - The Best Friend (The Pamela Hupp Case)

    Dead Wrong is a five-part deep dive into one of the most shocking wrongful conviction cases in recent memory — and the woman at the center of it all. When Betsy Faria was found stabbed to death in her Missouri home in 2011, the case seemed straightforward. Her husband, Russ Faria, was quickly arrested and convicted. But almost immediately, the story began to unravel. In this five-episode arc, we follow the timeline from Betsy’s murder to Russ’s conviction, the appeals that exposed serious investigative flaws, and the growing suspicion surrounding Betsy’s close friend — Pamela Hupp. As each layer peels back, the question becomes unavoidable: How did the wrong person go to prison? And how did it take so long for anyone to stop it? ⸻ About the show Kat Has Questions is a curiosity-driven podcast about real stories that sound unreal — from unsolved crimes and strange history to the quietly weird corners of human behavior. New episodes every Wednesday. ⸻ Sources & Further Reading Primary Sources Police interview summaries — Pamela Hupp (2011) Probable cause and charging documents — State v. Russell Faria Trial transcripts — Pamela Hupp testimony (Russ Faria trial, 2013) Missouri Court of Appeals opinion overturning Faria conviction Secondary Reporting & Coverage Dateline NBC — The Thing About Pam Court TV / Law & Crime Network coverage St. Louis Post-Dispatch trial reporting KSDK (St. Louis) investigative reporting Procedural Context National Institute of Justice — research on investigative and confirmation bias Innocence Project — wrongful conviction case analysis 🎵 Music: “Scrunchy” by Night Drift Licensed by Uppbeat License code: CAHWZR9T33BFXDNY ⸻ Contact 📩 kathasquestionspod@gmail.com Instagram: @KatHasQuestions Support the Show If you’re enjoying Kat Has Questions, follow the podcast, leave a review, or send in a weird historical mystery you want me to dig into next. Support the show & buy me a coffee: buymeacoffee.com/kathasquesw

    13 min
  7. 19 - Dead Wrong: Part 1 - The Last Ride (The Pamela Hupp Case)

    11 MAR

    19 - Dead Wrong: Part 1 - The Last Ride (The Pamela Hupp Case)

    Dead Wrong is a five-part deep dive into one of the most shocking wrongful conviction cases in recent memory — and the woman at the center of it all. When Betsy Faria was found stabbed to death in her Missouri home in 2011, the case seemed straightforward. Her husband, Russ Faria, was quickly arrested and convicted. But almost immediately, the story began to unravel. In this five-episode arc, we follow the timeline from Betsy’s murder to Russ’s conviction, the appeals that exposed serious investigative flaws, and the growing suspicion surrounding Betsy’s close friend — Pamela Hupp. As each layer peels back, the question becomes unavoidable: How did the wrong person go to prison? And how did it take so long for anyone to stop it? ⸻ About the show Kat Has Questions is a curiosity-driven podcast about real stories that sound unreal — from unsolved crimes and strange history to the quietly weird corners of human behavior. New episodes every Wednesday. ⸻ Sources & Further Reading Primary Sources Missouri State v. Russell Faria — police reports and court records (Dec 27–28, 2011) Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office — 911 call transcript and response records Autopsy Report — Elizabeth “Betsy” Faria Secondary Reporting Dateline NBC — The Thing About Pam St. Louis Post-Dispatch (2011–2012 coverage) CBS News and NBC News case summaries 🎵 Music: “Scrunchy” by Night Drift Licensed by Uppbeat License code: CAHWZR9T33BFXDNY ⸻ Contact 📩 kathasquestionspod@gmail.com Instagram: @KatHasQuestions Support the Show If you’re enjoying Kat Has Questions, follow the podcast, leave a review, or send in a weird historical mystery you want me to dig into next. Support the show & buy me a coffee: buymeacoffee.com/kathasquesw

    18 min

  8. 4 MAR

    18 - The WOW! Signal: The Mysterious Space Signal Scientists Still Can’t Explain ⭐️

    In August 1977, a radio telescope in Ohio detected something extraordinary. A powerful, narrowband radio signal appeared suddenly, lasted 72 seconds, and then vanished — never to be detected again. The signal was so unexpected that astronomer Jerry Ehman circled it in red ink and wrote one word in the margin: “WOW!” Nearly fifty years later, the WOW! Signal remains one of the most intriguing unsolved mysteries in science. Was it a natural cosmic phenomenon? Human interference? Or something more — a signal not meant for us, overheard only once? In this episode of Kat Has Questions, we break down what scientists were listening for, why this signal shouldn’t have existed, the explanations that almost work (but don’t), and why extraterrestrial intelligence is still part of the conversation. Because sometimes the most unsettling mysteries aren’t loud or dramatic — they’re quiet, brief, and never repeated. ⸻ About the show Kat Has Questions is a curiosity-driven podcast about real stories that sound unreal — from unsolved crimes and strange history to the quietly weird corners of human behavior. New episodes every week. ⸻ Sources & Further Reading - Ohio State University — Big Ear Radio Observatory (Archives) https://astronomy.osu.edu/bigear - SETI Institutehttps://www.seti.org - NASA —“The Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence”https://www.nasa.gov/vision/universe/starsgalaxies/seti.html - Smithsonian Magazine —“The WOW! Signal: What We Know and What We Don’t” https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/wow-signal-180968917/ - National Geographic —“The WOW! Signal Explained” https://www.nationalgeographic.com/science/article/wow-signal-explained - Ehman, Jerry R.Original commentary and interviews regarding the WOW! Signal As with many long-standing scientific mysteries, interpretations of the WOW! Signal vary. While no explanation has been confirmed, the signal remains notable for its strength, structure, and lack of repetition. 🎵 Music: “Scrunchy” by Night Drift Licensed by Uppbeat License code: CAHWZR9T33BFXDNY ⸻ Contact 📩 kathasquestionspod@gmail.com Instagram: @KatHasQuestions Support the Show If you’re enjoying Kat Has Questions, follow the podcast, leave a review, or send in a weird historical mystery you want me to dig into next.

    23 min
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About

Kat dives into the real stories that sound made up — from strange history and psychology to unsolved mysteries, true crime, urban legends, and the weird corners of the internet. Thoughtful, funny, and just the right amount of unhinged.

Information

  • Creator
    Kat Chesnut
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    26
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Kat Chesnut
  • Show Website
    Kat Has Questions

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