Bunkum & Ballyhoo
@bunkumballyhoo.bsky.social
A podcast about liars, grifters, con artists, showmen, hoaxers, hustlers and bullshit through history, hosted by @patrickwreed.bsky.social
https://open.spotify.com/show/3AOHULjSoQWlLRMR3LEeNJ?si=351e68e8bf974528
https://open.spotify.com/show/3AOHULjSoQWlLRMR3LEeNJ?si=351e68e8bf974528
On the latest Bunkum & Ballyhoo, we take aim at one of the internet's favourite obsessions - The Mandela Effect, and how it tells us very little about alternate timelines, but a lot about the selfishness of conspiratorial belief.
🟢: bit.ly/4802SFi
🍎: bit.ly/480a83R
📦: bit.ly/4o2jHFw
🟢: bit.ly/4802SFi
🍎: bit.ly/480a83R
📦: bit.ly/4o2jHFw
November 15, 2025 at 5:35 PM
On the latest Bunkum & Ballyhoo, we take aim at one of the internet's favourite obsessions - The Mandela Effect, and how it tells us very little about alternate timelines, but a lot about the selfishness of conspiratorial belief.
🟢: bit.ly/4802SFi
🍎: bit.ly/480a83R
📦: bit.ly/4o2jHFw
🟢: bit.ly/4802SFi
🍎: bit.ly/480a83R
📦: bit.ly/4o2jHFw
Reposted by Bunkum & Ballyhoo
Bunkum & Ballyhoo returns with a look at the most audacious literary coup of the 20th century - The Autobiography of Howard Hughes, the tell-all memoir of the world's most famous eccentric recluse.
Just one problem - the whole thing was a hoax.
🟢: bit.ly/4oLyBAG
📦: bit.ly/4oLyOUu
Just one problem - the whole thing was a hoax.
🟢: bit.ly/4oLyBAG
📦: bit.ly/4oLyOUu
October 31, 2025 at 9:10 AM
Bunkum & Ballyhoo returns with a look at the most audacious literary coup of the 20th century - The Autobiography of Howard Hughes, the tell-all memoir of the world's most famous eccentric recluse.
Just one problem - the whole thing was a hoax.
🟢: bit.ly/4oLyBAG
📦: bit.ly/4oLyOUu
Just one problem - the whole thing was a hoax.
🟢: bit.ly/4oLyBAG
📦: bit.ly/4oLyOUu
Bunkum & Ballyhoo returns with a look at the most audacious literary coup of the 20th century - The Autobiography of Howard Hughes, the tell-all memoir of the world's most famous eccentric recluse.
Just one problem - the whole thing was a hoax.
🟢: bit.ly/4oLyBAG
📦: bit.ly/4oLyOUu
Just one problem - the whole thing was a hoax.
🟢: bit.ly/4oLyBAG
📦: bit.ly/4oLyOUu
October 31, 2025 at 9:10 AM
Bunkum & Ballyhoo returns with a look at the most audacious literary coup of the 20th century - The Autobiography of Howard Hughes, the tell-all memoir of the world's most famous eccentric recluse.
Just one problem - the whole thing was a hoax.
🟢: bit.ly/4oLyBAG
📦: bit.ly/4oLyOUu
Just one problem - the whole thing was a hoax.
🟢: bit.ly/4oLyBAG
📦: bit.ly/4oLyOUu
Reposted by Bunkum & Ballyhoo
Bunkum & Ballyhoo returns to the world of literary scandal, with a new episode on The Autobiography of Howard Hughes - audacious hoax, or the publishing coup of the century?
Get exclusive access one week early, exclusively on Patreon.
Get exclusive access one week early, exclusively on Patreon.
Bunkum & Ballyhoo S3E3: The Autobiography of Howard Hughes | Patrick W. Reed
Get more from Patrick W. Reed on Patreon
www.patreon.com
October 24, 2025 at 11:24 AM
Bunkum & Ballyhoo returns to the world of literary scandal, with a new episode on The Autobiography of Howard Hughes - audacious hoax, or the publishing coup of the century?
Get exclusive access one week early, exclusively on Patreon.
Get exclusive access one week early, exclusively on Patreon.
Bunkum & Ballyhoo returns to the world of literary scandal, with a new episode on The Autobiography of Howard Hughes - audacious hoax, or the publishing coup of the century?
Get exclusive access one week early, exclusively on Patreon.
Get exclusive access one week early, exclusively on Patreon.
Bunkum & Ballyhoo S3E3: The Autobiography of Howard Hughes | Patrick W. Reed
Get more from Patrick W. Reed on Patreon
www.patreon.com
October 24, 2025 at 11:24 AM
Bunkum & Ballyhoo returns to the world of literary scandal, with a new episode on The Autobiography of Howard Hughes - audacious hoax, or the publishing coup of the century?
Get exclusive access one week early, exclusively on Patreon.
Get exclusive access one week early, exclusively on Patreon.
Reposted by Bunkum & Ballyhoo
God, True Believer Syndrome is a real sonuvabitch.
(Yo, listen to this show!)
(Yo, listen to this show!)
In the latest episode of Bunkum & Ballyhoo, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle goes to bat to support the authenticity of some extraordinary photographs, which appear to show two young girls playing with the fairies at the bottom of their garden. But are they the real deal?
🟢: bit.ly/4g755Cl
🟢: bit.ly/4g755Cl
September 7, 2025 at 11:15 PM
God, True Believer Syndrome is a real sonuvabitch.
(Yo, listen to this show!)
(Yo, listen to this show!)
Reposted by Bunkum & Ballyhoo
In the latest episode of Bunkum & Ballyhoo, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle goes to bat to support the authenticity of some extraordinary photographs, which appear to show two young girls playing with the fairies at the bottom of their garden. But are they the real deal?
🟢: bit.ly/4g755Cl
🟢: bit.ly/4g755Cl
September 4, 2025 at 9:43 AM
In the latest episode of Bunkum & Ballyhoo, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle goes to bat to support the authenticity of some extraordinary photographs, which appear to show two young girls playing with the fairies at the bottom of their garden. But are they the real deal?
🟢: bit.ly/4g755Cl
🟢: bit.ly/4g755Cl
In the latest episode of Bunkum & Ballyhoo, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle goes to bat to support the authenticity of some extraordinary photographs, which appear to show two young girls playing with the fairies at the bottom of their garden. But are they the real deal?
🟢: bit.ly/4g755Cl
🟢: bit.ly/4g755Cl
September 4, 2025 at 9:43 AM
In the latest episode of Bunkum & Ballyhoo, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle goes to bat to support the authenticity of some extraordinary photographs, which appear to show two young girls playing with the fairies at the bottom of their garden. But are they the real deal?
🟢: bit.ly/4g755Cl
🟢: bit.ly/4g755Cl
Patreon subscribers can access the next episode right now, one week before anyone else, as the patron saint of Bunkum & Ballyhoo rubes, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, returns to the forefront for the story of the Cottingley Fairies.
Bunkum & Ballyhoo S3E2: The Cottingley Fairies | Patrick W. Reed
Get more from Patrick W. Reed on Patreon
www.patreon.com
August 28, 2025 at 6:44 PM
Patreon subscribers can access the next episode right now, one week before anyone else, as the patron saint of Bunkum & Ballyhoo rubes, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, returns to the forefront for the story of the Cottingley Fairies.
Reposted by Bunkum & Ballyhoo
I can’t say enough great things about this podcast. It’s a briefer listen than most and uses stories about charlatans and oddities to highlight all-too-present truths.
In this season 3 premiere, I was delightfully surprised by a rare left turn — then faced with a very uncomfortable (needed) truth.
In this season 3 premiere, I was delightfully surprised by a rare left turn — then faced with a very uncomfortable (needed) truth.
Bunkum & Ballyhoo returns to the world of mid-20th century con artists, exploring the story of spiritualist medium M. Lamar Keene and the Psychic Mafia, and the perils of True Believer Syndrome.
Give it a listen now!
🟢: bit.ly/3IVJZdt
🍎: apple.co/4eZcpzn
📦: amzn.to/3IWrMwk
Give it a listen now!
🟢: bit.ly/3IVJZdt
🍎: apple.co/4eZcpzn
📦: amzn.to/3IWrMwk
July 23, 2025 at 2:56 PM
I can’t say enough great things about this podcast. It’s a briefer listen than most and uses stories about charlatans and oddities to highlight all-too-present truths.
In this season 3 premiere, I was delightfully surprised by a rare left turn — then faced with a very uncomfortable (needed) truth.
In this season 3 premiere, I was delightfully surprised by a rare left turn — then faced with a very uncomfortable (needed) truth.
Reposted by Bunkum & Ballyhoo
Bunkum & Ballyhoo returns to the world of mid-20th century con artists, exploring the story of spiritualist medium M. Lamar Keene and the Psychic Mafia, and the perils of True Believer Syndrome.
Give it a listen now!
🟢: bit.ly/3IVJZdt
🍎: apple.co/4eZcpzn
📦: amzn.to/3IWrMwk
Give it a listen now!
🟢: bit.ly/3IVJZdt
🍎: apple.co/4eZcpzn
📦: amzn.to/3IWrMwk
July 21, 2025 at 8:23 AM
Bunkum & Ballyhoo returns to the world of mid-20th century con artists, exploring the story of spiritualist medium M. Lamar Keene and the Psychic Mafia, and the perils of True Believer Syndrome.
Give it a listen now!
🟢: bit.ly/3IVJZdt
🍎: apple.co/4eZcpzn
📦: amzn.to/3IWrMwk
Give it a listen now!
🟢: bit.ly/3IVJZdt
🍎: apple.co/4eZcpzn
📦: amzn.to/3IWrMwk
Bunkum & Ballyhoo returns to the world of mid-20th century con artists, exploring the story of spiritualist medium M. Lamar Keene and the Psychic Mafia, and the perils of True Believer Syndrome.
Give it a listen now!
🟢: bit.ly/3IVJZdt
🍎: apple.co/4eZcpzn
📦: amzn.to/3IWrMwk
Give it a listen now!
🟢: bit.ly/3IVJZdt
🍎: apple.co/4eZcpzn
📦: amzn.to/3IWrMwk
July 21, 2025 at 8:23 AM
Bunkum & Ballyhoo returns to the world of mid-20th century con artists, exploring the story of spiritualist medium M. Lamar Keene and the Psychic Mafia, and the perils of True Believer Syndrome.
Give it a listen now!
🟢: bit.ly/3IVJZdt
🍎: apple.co/4eZcpzn
📦: amzn.to/3IWrMwk
Give it a listen now!
🟢: bit.ly/3IVJZdt
🍎: apple.co/4eZcpzn
📦: amzn.to/3IWrMwk
Reposted by Bunkum & Ballyhoo
If you're a Patreon subscriber, you can get early access to the first episode of Bunkum & Ballyhoo Series 3 *right now*, one week before general release!
Bunkum & Ballyhoo S3E1: The Psychic Mafia | Patrick W. Reed
Get more from Patrick W. Reed on Patreon
www.patreon.com
July 14, 2025 at 2:32 PM
If you're a Patreon subscriber, you can get early access to the first episode of Bunkum & Ballyhoo Series 3 *right now*, one week before general release!
If you're a Patreon subscriber, you can get early access to the first episode of Bunkum & Ballyhoo Series 3 *right now*, one week before general release!
Bunkum & Ballyhoo S3E1: The Psychic Mafia | Patrick W. Reed
Get more from Patrick W. Reed on Patreon
www.patreon.com
July 14, 2025 at 2:32 PM
If you're a Patreon subscriber, you can get early access to the first episode of Bunkum & Ballyhoo Series 3 *right now*, one week before general release!
Watch this space.
And listen to the old episodes.
And listen to the old episodes.
July 14, 2025 at 10:47 AM
Watch this space.
And listen to the old episodes.
And listen to the old episodes.
Reposted by Bunkum & Ballyhoo
Culminating in part 2 with a closer look at the men at the heart of the Highgate Vampire panic, and some of their other equally unusual, and often unsavoury, beliefs - and why I do Bunkum & Ballyhoo in the first place, and why we should always pay attention to the weirdoes.
bsky.app/profile/bunk...
bsky.app/profile/bunk...
To end series two of Bunkum & Ballyhoo, we return to Highgate, to look at the afterlife of the Highgate Vampire, to more closely explore the lives of the principle players, and to ask why unusual beliefs are worth paying attention to.
🟢: spoti.fi/3DVVS1e
🍎: bit.ly/42ptqgk
📦: bit.ly/4i8zYFQ
🟢: spoti.fi/3DVVS1e
🍎: bit.ly/42ptqgk
📦: bit.ly/4i8zYFQ
April 30, 2025 at 11:37 AM
Culminating in part 2 with a closer look at the men at the heart of the Highgate Vampire panic, and some of their other equally unusual, and often unsavoury, beliefs - and why I do Bunkum & Ballyhoo in the first place, and why we should always pay attention to the weirdoes.
bsky.app/profile/bunk...
bsky.app/profile/bunk...
Reposted by Bunkum & Ballyhoo
And finally, an epic two part finale looking at one of the strangest stories of the 20th century press - the Highgate Vampire, the supernatural fiend that stalked a London cemetery in the 1970s, and the intertwined lives of the two men who sought to exorcise it.
bsky.app/profile/bunk...
bsky.app/profile/bunk...
Series two comes to an end with a bumper two-parter about an infamous bit of 1970s spooky nonsense; this is the story of the Highgate Vampire, of the afterlife of a moral panic, of the feud between two vampire hunters, and of why it matters.
🟢: spoti.fi/4i05O7H
🍎: apple.co/3RqNmdo
📦: bit.ly/4iJogm8
🟢: spoti.fi/4i05O7H
🍎: apple.co/3RqNmdo
📦: bit.ly/4iJogm8
April 30, 2025 at 11:37 AM
And finally, an epic two part finale looking at one of the strangest stories of the 20th century press - the Highgate Vampire, the supernatural fiend that stalked a London cemetery in the 1970s, and the intertwined lives of the two men who sought to exorcise it.
bsky.app/profile/bunk...
bsky.app/profile/bunk...
Reposted by Bunkum & Ballyhoo
In an episode I had planned since first creating Bunkum & Ballyhoo, and eagerly anticipated putting together, a look at the life of Grey Owl, an indigenous North American conservationist who turned out to not be what he seemed.
bsky.app/profile/bunk...
bsky.app/profile/bunk...
Grey Owl was a pioneering conservationist, an inspiration to legendary figures in that field, and one of the most famous indigenous North American figures in the world.
But Grey Owl harboured a secret. Find out all about it in the latest Bunkum & Ballyhoo.
🟢: spoti.fi/3FAlgKc
📦: bit.ly/4kPZemN
But Grey Owl harboured a secret. Find out all about it in the latest Bunkum & Ballyhoo.
🟢: spoti.fi/3FAlgKc
📦: bit.ly/4kPZemN
April 30, 2025 at 11:37 AM
In an episode I had planned since first creating Bunkum & Ballyhoo, and eagerly anticipated putting together, a look at the life of Grey Owl, an indigenous North American conservationist who turned out to not be what he seemed.
bsky.app/profile/bunk...
bsky.app/profile/bunk...
Reposted by Bunkum & Ballyhoo
From the world of wrestling, looking at the life behind the meme and the viral video, exploring the extraordinary life story of The Great Antonio.
bsky.app/profile/bunk...
bsky.app/profile/bunk...
In the latest Bunkum & Ballyhoo, a look behind an early viral pro-wrestling video, to explore the larger than life story of The Great Antonio - from poverty to international stardom, to the peripatetic life of a beloved eccentric.
🟢: spoti.fi/4h4KbCz
🍎: bit.ly/4i0xEBE
📦: amzn.to/3XqpHNN
🟢: spoti.fi/4h4KbCz
🍎: bit.ly/4i0xEBE
📦: amzn.to/3XqpHNN
April 30, 2025 at 11:37 AM
From the world of wrestling, looking at the life behind the meme and the viral video, exploring the extraordinary life story of The Great Antonio.
bsky.app/profile/bunk...
bsky.app/profile/bunk...
Reposted by Bunkum & Ballyhoo
How about Carlos Kaiser, the Brazilian footballing star who never spent a single minute of a single game on the pitch?
bsky.app/profile/bunk...
bsky.app/profile/bunk...
Carlos Kaiser had a 13 year career with some of the biggest football teams in Brazil, & an unmatched record - 0 goals scored. In fact, he never even made it on to the pitch. Hear the story of football's greatest faker in the latest episode:
🟢: spoti.fi/3QlxSqF
🍎: apple.co/42YDYoj
📦: amzn.to/4i0X29N
🟢: spoti.fi/3QlxSqF
🍎: apple.co/42YDYoj
📦: amzn.to/4i0X29N
April 30, 2025 at 11:37 AM
How about Carlos Kaiser, the Brazilian footballing star who never spent a single minute of a single game on the pitch?
bsky.app/profile/bunk...
bsky.app/profile/bunk...
Reposted by Bunkum & Ballyhoo
Or Frank Searle, Monster Hunter Extraordinaire, and his exploits on the banks of Loch Ness.
bsky.app/profile/bunk...
bsky.app/profile/bunk...
The camera never lies. Bunkum & Ballyhoo takes its first cautious steps into the murky waters of cryptozoology, as we head to the shores of Loch Ness, and the caravan of Frank Searle, Monster Hunter Extraordinaire.
🟢: spoti.fi/4jFjLKm
📦: amzn.to/4jLABY7
🟢: spoti.fi/4jFjLKm
📦: amzn.to/4jLABY7
April 30, 2025 at 11:37 AM
Or Frank Searle, Monster Hunter Extraordinaire, and his exploits on the banks of Loch Ness.
bsky.app/profile/bunk...
bsky.app/profile/bunk...
Reposted by Bunkum & Ballyhoo
Bunkum & Ballyhoo is currently in a between-seasons break, which might run a little longer than expected while @patrickwreed.bsky.social prioritises working on his next book. But that just means there's time to catch up on Series 2, like...
The story of Count Dante!
bsky.app/profile/bunk...
The story of Count Dante!
bsky.app/profile/bunk...
We are BACK, kicking off Series 2 with a look at the life and lies of the World's Deadliest Fighter, the Master of the Dim Mak, legend of the comic book ad pages, the mysterious Count Dante!
🟢: spoti.fi/4h2kFPc
🍎: apple.co/4gXE9ET
📦: amzn.to/3E3mTPO
🟢: spoti.fi/4h2kFPc
🍎: apple.co/4gXE9ET
📦: amzn.to/3E3mTPO
April 30, 2025 at 11:37 AM
Bunkum & Ballyhoo is currently in a between-seasons break, which might run a little longer than expected while @patrickwreed.bsky.social prioritises working on his next book. But that just means there's time to catch up on Series 2, like...
The story of Count Dante!
bsky.app/profile/bunk...
The story of Count Dante!
bsky.app/profile/bunk...
Reposted by Bunkum & Ballyhoo
I don't think any human being has ever had as much fun telling a story as @patrickwreed.bsky.social has here talking about the Highgate Vampire and men who cannot stop yelling about being right.
Series two comes to an end with a bumper two-parter about an infamous bit of 1970s spooky nonsense; this is the story of the Highgate Vampire, of the afterlife of a moral panic, of the feud between two vampire hunters, and of why it matters.
🟢: spoti.fi/4i05O7H
🍎: apple.co/3RqNmdo
📦: bit.ly/4iJogm8
🟢: spoti.fi/4i05O7H
🍎: apple.co/3RqNmdo
📦: bit.ly/4iJogm8
May 5, 2025 at 5:35 PM
I don't think any human being has ever had as much fun telling a story as @patrickwreed.bsky.social has here talking about the Highgate Vampire and men who cannot stop yelling about being right.