Weird Wisconsin

Josh Hughes
  • 4.4 (8)
  • History
  • Updated Semimonthly

Weird Wisconsin explores the forgotten people, places, legends, and mysteries that shaped the Badger State. From unsolved murders and haunted locations to strange landmarks, local folklore, and forgotten history, each episode features conversations with the historians, eyewitnesses, authors, and experts who know these stories better than anyone.

  1. 2d ago

    This Week in Weird Wisconsin | October 9 - 15

    Welcome back to This Week in Weird Wisconsin, a weekly mini episode highlighting the people, places, and events that happened during this week in Wisconsin history. This week, Wisconsin shuts down public gathering places during the 1918 influenza pandemic, and exactly 39 years later Milwaukee celebrates a World Series championship. We'll also revisit the bizarre Eagle Diamond case, where a woman sold a stone for $1 only to discover it was one of the largest diamonds ever found in America. And finally, we head to Milwaukee in 1912, where Theodore Roosevelt is shot in the chest before a campaign speech and decides to speak for roughly 80 minutes anyway. Explore this week's event: Halloween Legends & Lore at Old World Wisconsin Tickets 🎧 Listen everywhere Follow Weird Wisconsin: Facebook Instagram TikTok Original Theme by Tyler Quinn Website

    This Week in Weird Wisconsin | October 9 - 15

  2. Oct 1

    This Week in Weird Wisconsin | October 2 - 8

    Welcome back to This Week in Weird Wisconsin, a weekly mini episode highlighting the people, places, and events that happened during this week in Wisconsin history. This week, we dig into the bizarre early history of Bucky Badger, including the live badger that kept escaping and a raccoon named Regdab that somehow became part of the mascot story. We'll also revisit a major 1962 civil rights protest in Madison, the 1912 American Grand Prix raced on public roads around Milwaukee, the flood that nearly erased downtown Black River Falls, and the Milwaukee Police Band's unlikely path from whistling officers to performing with John Philip Sousa. And finally, we look back at the Peshtigo Fire of October 8, 1871, the deadliest wildfire in American history. Explore this week's events: Spiritualism in the Victorian Era at Black Point Estate October 2 in Lake Geneva Bayfield Apple Festival October 2–4 in Bayfield 🎧 Listen everywhere Follow Weird Wisconsin: Facebook Instagram TikTok Original Theme by Tyler Quinn Website

    This Week in Weird Wisconsin | October 2 - 8

  3. Sep 24

    This Week in Weird Wisconsin | September 25 - October 1

    Welcome back to This Week in Weird Wisconsin, a weekly mini episode highlighting the people, places, and events that happened during this week in Wisconsin history. This week, Manitowoc holds an actual funeral for a steamship, Wisconsin's most famous Civil War eagle gets honored at the 1876 Centennial Exhibition, and the very first Smokey Bear costume makes its public debut in Wausau. We'll also revisit the first regular-season game played at what became Lambeau Field, the Treaty of La Pointe, and Wisconsin's very first State Fair—where one of the biggest attractions was a 200-pound squash. And if that somehow isn't weird enough, Mount Horeb is also preparing to burn a giant troll. Explore this week's event: Burning Troll September 26 near Mount Horeb 🎧 Listen everywhere Follow Weird Wisconsin: Facebook Instagram TikTok Original Theme by Tyler Quinn Instagram

    This Week in Weird Wisconsin | September 25 - October 1

  4. Sep 22

    A Marsh of All Places

    *]:pointer-events-auto R6Vx5W_threadScrollVars scroll-mb-[calc(var(--scroll-root-safe-area-inset-bottom,0px)+var(--thread-response-height))] scroll-mt-[calc(var(--header-height)+min(200px,max(70px,20svh)))]" dir="auto" data-turn-id= "request-WEB:6a3a0c03-7752-4315-b8b8-6ab9b23d03ad-2" data-turn-id-container= "request-WEB:6a3a0c03-7752-4315-b8b8-6ab9b23d03ad-2" data-testid= "conversation-turn-6" data-turn="assistant"> A viral story claims cranberry growers release spiders into their marshes to control pests and that workers must be screened for arachnophobia before wading into the water. The story is a lie. But Wisconsin's cranberry marshes are definitely not spider-free. When growers flood a cranberry bed for harvest, spiders hidden among the vines rise with the water and travel across its surface toward the safety of the dikes. For a brief moment, several acres of spiders can become concentrated in one place. But they are not attacking workers, laying eggs on people or being deliberately released. The reality of Wisconsin's cranberry marshes is far more complicated and fascinating than the internet makes it sound. In this episode, we investigate how the viral story began, how cranberries are actually grown and what really happens to the spiders when a marsh is flooded. We also explore why wild cranberry wetlands can contain far more spiders than commercial marshes and whether those spiders actually help control agricultural pests. Cranberry grower John Stauner takes us inside the ecosystem of James Lake Farms. Dr. Michael Draney, professor and curator of the Richter Museum of Natural History at UW-Green Bay, explains the remarkable diversity of spiders living in Wisconsin wetlands. USDA cranberry entomologist Shawn Steffan reveals what decades of research tell us about the complicated role those predators play in a working marsh. Together, they help us separate viral fiction from the fascinating reality beneath Wisconsin's cranberry marshes. 🎧 Listen everywhere Follow Weird Wisconsin: Facebook Instagram TikTok Learn More: James Lake Farms 📍Three Lakes, Wisconsin Website Dr. Michael Draney UW-Green Bay Shawn Steffan UW Entomology Episode Artwork by Rachal Duggan Instagram Website Original Theme by Tyler Quinn Website _:empty]:hidden">

    A Marsh of All Places

  5. Sep 17

    This Week in Weird Wisconsin | September 18 - 24

    Welcome back to This Week in Weird Wisconsin, a weekly mini episode highlighting the people, places, and events that happened during this week in Wisconsin history. This week, we dive into three Lake Michigan disasters, including a shipwreck still carrying its iron ore and a schooner that floated upside down for nearly two weeks. We'll also revisit one of Green Bay's largest fires, the recovery of a 3,000-year-old canoe from Lake Mendota, and one of the darkest cases in Wisconsin conservation warden history. Thankfully, we'll balance all of that out with three days devoted entirely to cheese—and a parade led by actual cows. Explore this week's event: Green County Cheese Days September 18–20 in Monroe 🎧 Listen everywhere Follow Weird Wisconsin: Facebook Instagram TikTok Original Theme by Tyler Quinn Instagram   _:empty]:hidden">

    This Week in Weird Wisconsin | September 18 - 24

  6. Sep 15

    A Stone From The Devil's Mouth

    For more than 150 years, a 1,600-pound piece of Ireland has been sitting in the foundation of Saint Bernard's Church in Watertown, Wisconsin. The stone came from the Rock of Cashel, one of Ireland's most famous historic sites. According to legend, the rock was created when Saint Patrick banished the devil from a nearby mountain. While escaping, the devil transformed into a winged giant, bit off part of the mountaintop, broke his teeth and spat the rock ten miles across Ireland. But how did a piece of that rock end up in Wisconsin? In this episode, we trace the stone's journey from Ireland to Watertown. Its story involves a Civil War chaplain, a collapsed medieval tower, a debate in British Parliament and a three-month journey across the Atlantic. When the stone was finally placed into the church's foundation in 1873, as many as 10,000 people gathered to witness it. Then, somewhere along the way, almost everyone forgot it was there. With help from Irish historian Dr. Thomas Patrick Nelligan and Marquette University historian Dr. Timothy McMahon, we uncover the history, folklore and nearly forgotten meaning behind Wisconsin's stone from the devil's mouth. 🎧 Listen everywhere Follow Weird Wisconsin: Facebook Instagram TikTok Learn More: The Standing Stone with Dr. Thomas Patrick Nelligan Website Dr. Timothy G. McMahon Marquette University Rock of Cashel 📍Cashel, County Tipperary, Ireland Visitor Information Saint Bernard's Church 📍Watertown, Wisconsin Website Episode Artwork by Rachal Duggan Instagram Website Original Theme by Tyler Quinn Website If you enjoyed this episode, follow the Weird Wisconsin Podcast on your favorite podcast app, leave a rating or review, and share it with someone who loves Wisconsin history, mysteries and folklore.

    A Stone From The Devil's Mouth

  7. Sep 10

    This Week in Weird Wisconsin | September 11 - 17

    Welcome back to This Week in Weird Wisconsin, a weekly mini episode highlighting the people, places, and events that happened during this week in Wisconsin history. This week, we uncover how the remnants of the deadly Galveston hurricane reached Wisconsin, look back at the first automobile race at the Milwaukee Mile, do some goat yoga at a historic stagecoach stop, explore a piece of medieval Ireland hidden in Watertown, and dive into two recently recognized Door County shipwrecks. We'll also revisit John Muir's Wisconsin roots and one of the state's forgotten aviation pioneers. Along the way, I'll also point you toward a few places and events where you can experience these stories for yourself. Explore this week's events: Goat Yoga at Wade House https://calendar.wisconsinhistory.org/events/month/2026-09/ Wisconsin's John Muir Exhibit https://calendar.wisconsinhistory.org/events/month/2026-09/ Stone Age Astronaut Book Launch at Boswell Book Company https://calendar.wisconsinhistory.org/events/month/2026-09/ 🎧 Listen everywhere Follow Weird Wisconsin: Facebook Instagram TikTok Original Theme by Tyler Quinn Instagram

    This Week in Weird Wisconsin | September 11 - 17

  8. Sep 3

    This Week In Weird Wisconsin | September 4 - 10

    Welcome back to This Week in Weird Wisconsin, a weekly mini episode highlighting the people, places, and events that happened during this week in Wisconsin history. This week, we head to Prairie du Sac for the wonderfully ridiculous Wisconsin State Cow Chip Throw, revisit the deadly 1860 sinking of the Lady Elgin on Lake Michigan, and uncover the story of the Phoenix, a burning steamship carrying Dutch immigrants to Wisconsin in 1847. Along the way, I'll also point you toward a couple of places and events where you can experience these stories for yourself. Explore this week's events: Wisconsin State Cow Chip Throw & Festival https://wiscowchip.com/ Wisconsin Maritime Museum — Think & Drink: Tragedy of the Phoenix https://www.wisconsinmaritime.org/event/think-drink-tragedy-of-the-phoenix/ 🎧 Listen everywhere Follow Weird Wisconsin: Facebook Instagram TikTok Original Theme by Tyler Quinn Instagram

    This Week In Weird Wisconsin | September 4 - 10
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4.4
out of 5
8 Ratings

About

Weird Wisconsin explores the forgotten people, places, legends, and mysteries that shaped the Badger State. From unsolved murders and haunted locations to strange landmarks, local folklore, and forgotten history, each episode features conversations with the historians, eyewitnesses, authors, and experts who know these stories better than anyone.

Information

  • Creator
    Josh Hughes
  • Years Active
    2026
  • Episodes
    18
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026
  • Show Website
    Weird Wisconsin

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