This is True, Really News

This is True, Really News

A whimsical, some say silly, look at news from around the world.

  1. Aug 13

    Meth Raccoon, A Hooters Vigil & The 911 Emergency Nap | This is True Really News Ep 1090

    Meth Raccoons, Emergency Naps, and Medieval Bathroom Escapes! Welcome to Episode 1090 of This is True Really News with Scott Combs and Tony Verkanis, where all the news you’re about to hear is true... really! (As far as you know). In this episode, we cover some of the most bizarre stories of the week. We kick things off with a highly emotional candlelight vigil for a demolished Hooters in West Virginia. Then, we dive into the legendary tale of a man whose nap was so deep he woke up confused and called 911 to report himself as "unresponsive." Plus, a Cambridge academic MacGyvers her way out of a medieval tower bathroom using makeup tools, and an Ohio traffic stop reveals a pet raccoon named Chewy double-fisting glass pipes. Don't forget to like, subscribe, and click the bell icon so you never miss out on the weirdest news of the week! 0:00 - Intro: Rubber Baby Buggy Bumpers & Emergency Naps 1:03 - Tearful Goodbyes: The Kanawha City Hooters Candlelight Vigil 4:32 - The Epic Snooze: Man Calls 911 to Report Himself "Unresponsive" 8:30 - Medieval Escape: Cambridge Academic MacGyvers Out of a Locked Bathroom 12:55 - Chewy the Raccoon: The Most Bizarre Traffic Stop in Ohio History 15:56 - Outro & How to Contact Us The Hooters Vigil: Residents and former employees gather for a candlelight vigil as a beloved West Virginia Hooters gets demolished. The 911 Nap: A man takes a nap so powerful with his heated blanket that he wakes up in a panic and calls paramedics to report his own lack of responsiveness. The Eyeliner Escape Artist: Dr. Christina Ilko gets trapped in a medieval tower bathroom at Cambridge University and picks the lock using an eyeliner brush and a cotton swab. Chewy the Bandit: Ohio police pull over a driver with a suspended license, only to find her pet raccoon in the driver's seat digging through a bag of crystal meth and crack cocaine. Make it good, and send your longer stories and (well-thought-out) complaints to us at: TITR@NetRadio.network

    Meth Raccoon, A Hooters Vigil & The 911 Emergency Nap | This is True Really News Ep 1090
  2. Aug 11

    Demonic Goat Robots, Bathroom Savants & Faking Death | This is True Really News Ep 1089

    ## Demonic Rescue Bots, Accidental Geniuses & Faked Funerals Welcome to another rousing edition of This is True Really News! Scot Combs and Tony Verkinnes are back to bring you all the news you need to know without all the falderal (or is it the other way around?). This week, we explore the bizarre phenomenon of Acquired Savant Syndrome, questionable robotics, and some truly terrible decision-making. Like, subscribe, and leave us a comment! Pro or con, just make sure you take your time and do it right. 0:00 - Intro: Falderal, Fiddle-dee-dee, & German Body Parts 2:00 - Tommy McHugh: The Bathroom Savant Stroke 5:53 - Why a NY School Paused its AI Robot Program 8:49 - "Three Halves": The Terrifying Goat-Headed Rescue Robot 13:50 - Derek Amato: Diving Headfirst into Musical Genius 17:11 - The Guy Who Faked His Own Death to Avoid a DUI 20:40 - Outro: Seashells & Contact Info Accidental Geniuses: We look into two wild cases of "Acquired Savant Syndrome." First, the story of Tommy McHugh, a tough builder who suffered a stroke on the toilet and woke up speaking in continuous rhyme with a compulsion to paint. Then, we look at Derek Amato, who dove into the shallow end of a pool and emerged as a classical piano prodigy who sees music in moving visual blocks. Questionable Robotics: A New York school district pauses the deployment of an AI humanoid robot after discovering the manufacturer's other line of business. Plus, a robotics company builds a search-and-rescue robot that looks exactly like a demonic goat centaur—because nothing is more comforting in an emergency than Baphomet. Criminal Masterminds: A man named "C" gets a DUI and decides the most logical course of action is to fake his own death with the help of his family. Spoiler alert: The authorities could see right through it. Email your questions, snark, or stories we missed: titr@netradio.network Subscribe for more news (as far as you know)

    Demonic Goat Robots, Bathroom Savants & Faking Death | This is True Really News Ep 1089
  3. Aug 8

    Family Planning Mayonnaise?! Bizarre Grocery Signs | This is True Really News Mailbag Ep 244

    In this episode of the Mailbag:We dive into the backend of our analytics and discover some truly perplexing listener demographics (shoutout to Vietnam and Malaysia!). Then, we review a masterclass in terrible retail marketing, featuring some of the most baffling, bizarre, and grammatically disastrous grocery store signs we've ever seen. Plus, a recap of the latest gig at The Thirsty Bison! Episode Highlights Global Reach: We try to guess our top listeners by country. Spoiler: We are terrible at geography and our demographics make zero sense. Sign Fails: We highlight the very best (and worst) of retail signage, including:"See recipe on back"5 lb. Bag of Cubed Ice"Buy 1 for the price of 2, get 1 free"Promotional Placard"Vegetarian Pork Chops"Taste like Grandma"Fruit Jam"Family Planning"Above the Mayonnaise" Do Not Microwave" Rustic Firewood ⏳ Chapter Timestamps0:00 - Intro & Mailbag Updates 0:44 - Guessing our Top YouTube Geographies 2:07 - Our Baffling Spotify Podcast Demographics 4:05 - Speaking Languages & Snippy Sellers 5:12 - Hilarious & Bizarre Grocery Store Signs 9:31 - The Ultimate Gibberish "Spoon" Sign 10:50 - Cows, Bison, and Football Gear 11:30 - A Shoutout to "The Thirsty Bison" GigDrop a comment below! Where in the world are YOU listening from, and what is the weirdest sign you've ever seen at a grocery store? Don't forget to LIKE and SUBSCRIBE for more True Really News!

    Family Planning Mayonnaise?! Bizarre Grocery Signs | This is True Really News Mailbag Ep 244

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A whimsical, some say silly, look at news from around the world.