The Nonessential Podcast
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nonessential.bsky.social
The Nonessential Podcast
@nonessential.bsky.social
6 followers 1 following 35 posts
Don't miss the Nonessential Podcast: https://thenonessential.libsyn.com/

Or do. It's not really essential. (A show about weird history, crime, horror, and anything else interesting, by Ben Matlock and Steve Gibson)
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nonessential.bsky.social
I don't really have a good reason to post this but I'm doing it anyway.
Restroom "Men" sign changed to "Ben" sign.
September 26, 2024 at 8:15 PM
nonessential.bsky.social
Just when you thought we were done, we post another. Check out our latest episode, in which Ben reads 'Scribblings in the Well'

thenonessential.libsyn.com/episode-263-...
A black and white (though mostly gray) photo of an old stone well, cropped off the right side, with palms and such in the background. It's sort of related to this week's episode, I guess.
September 18, 2024 at 5:39 PM
nonessential.bsky.social
Sometimes you want to get away from the place where everybody knows your name. This week, Steve reads a story about a man trapped in a kind of purgatory that... well, actually sounds pretty okay? Check out The Bar, by Alparos-Lilah.

thenonessential.libsyn.com/episode-262-...
Photograph of a warmly lit bar with liquor bottles along the back wall. No patrons are visible because they're probably all passed out on the floor.
August 20, 2024 at 3:05 PM
nonessential.bsky.social
As a special treat, we're posting this on time this week. How retro.

Check out the exciting conclusion to 'Lost Episodes Can Be Found', originally written by Hopelessnightowl, and expertly read by Ben.

thenonessential.libsyn.com/episode-261-...
The Nonessential Podcast: Episode 261: Lost Episodes Can Be Found, Pt 2
This week, Ben reads the exciting conclusion, or is excited to conclude, the mystery thriller creepypasta Lost Episodes Can Be Found, originally written by Hopelessnightowl.  As the protagon...
thenonessential.libsyn.com
August 6, 2024 at 3:23 PM
nonessential.bsky.social
Have you ever remembered seeing a show or movie that, when you try to find it again, just doesn't seem to exist?

It's kind of like how you think this show was posted late, but Steve swears it was up on Tuesday.

Check out Lost Episodes Can Be Found (pt1)
thenonessential.libsyn.com/episode-260-...
A cropped in photo of a tape deck player with a blank VHS tape and a (Betamax? Not even we are that old) tape. Sitting along side a remote on a wood table.
July 25, 2024 at 2:01 PM
nonessential.bsky.social
This week, Steve tells the story of a soldier who is haunted by his past. Literally.

Check out the anonymously-written 'Only Following Orders' by anonymous. Anonymously.

thenonessential.libsyn.com/episode-259-...
The Nonessential Podcast: Episode 259: Only Following Orders
In this installment of the Nonessential Podcast, Steve reads the story of a soldier who's past is quite literally haunting him. Check out the anonymously written Only Following Orders. 
thenonessential.libsyn.com
June 25, 2024 at 8:30 PM
nonessential.bsky.social
Look who's back. Back again. Neither of us are particularly slim, but Ben is pretty shady.

Check out episode 258: The Adventures of Hubert Wilkins
thenonessential.libsyn.com/episode-258-...
The Nonessential Podcast: Episode 258: The Adventures of Hubert Wilkins
Hubert Wiliks was a man on a mission. Well, a few missions. But war metals and documenting birds couldn't compare with his plan to pilot a submarine under the north pole, using specially designed evil...
thenonessential.libsyn.com
June 11, 2024 at 2:34 PM
nonessential.bsky.social
A new show is up (in flames?) Check out a pair of creepypasta written by Alparos-Lilah and read (poorly) by Steve: The Fortune Teller & Echoes from the Ashes.
thenonessential.libsyn.com/episode-257-...
A generic, wispy flame in front of a plain black background.
April 23, 2024 at 6:47 PM
nonessential.bsky.social
This week, Ben reads 'The Butcher Family' by Night Spirit. It's a tale of woe, generational curses, and the best damned meat-cubes you ever did taste. 

thenonessential.libsyn.com/episode-256-...
Juicy, red, freshly-cut meat cubes on a wood butcherblock with peppercorns and rosemary.
April 9, 2024 at 4:49 PM
nonessential.bsky.social
We're back! And this week Steve brings *two* creepypastas about creepy crawlies. Check out 'CreepyCrawlies' by TheBrexter and 'TheCrawlyMan' by SpoopySparkles.
thenonessential.libsyn.com/episode-255-...
A picture of a spiderweb bedazzled in tiny dewdrops.
March 26, 2024 at 4:20 PM
nonessential.bsky.social
They fought to keep this show off the internet, but we won't let them stop us.

This week, Ben reads 'A Friend in Need' by Dylon Winfield, while Steve heroically fights the urge to sing the title to the tune of the Toy Story song.
A high contrast, black and white photo of an old brick and mortar church building.
February 28, 2024 at 4:17 PM
nonessential.bsky.social
This week, Steve reads Aphibacus192000's 'Overgrowth' -- a horror story about a scientific breakthrough that backfires even worse than olestra did in the 90s.
thenonessential.libsyn.com/episode-253-...
An apparently deserted stairway. Blue sky is visible between the encroaching walls of vining ivy.
February 20, 2024 at 2:34 PM
nonessential.bsky.social
This week, Ben puts on his Brave Boy Pants and delves into Reddit/Nosleep to retrieve a story so frightful in its frighteningness that it took us an extra 24 hours to post.

'My Wife Has Been Peeking At Me […] by Maliagirl1314

thenonessential.libsyn.com/episode-252-...
A pair of blue eyes just visible peering between leaves, the owner of which appears disheveled. Frightened? Threatening? That's the mystery of it.
February 14, 2024 at 5:00 PM
nonessential.bsky.social
This week, we (eventually) talk about the Blackbird of Chernobyl, which is perhaps the most rad(ioactive) cryptid not-known to man.

thenonessential.libsyn.com/episode-251-...
A bird that is black, and is sitting on an old'ish looking chain-link fence. The background is blurred, perhaps to protect the bird's location, though maybe it's just artsy.
January 30, 2024 at 7:48 PM
nonessential.bsky.social
I put this week's show up early since last week's was late and definitely not because I forgot to put in a scheduled release time when I set up the post.

Check out a supernatural musical horror 'The Curse of the Ninth!' (by Trycksterr)
thenonessential.libsyn.com/episode-250-...
A cropped image of a person in a leather jacket holding an acoustic guitar.
January 22, 2024 at 8:21 PM
nonessential.bsky.social
This week, Steve takes a look at a trio of murder-crimes with interesting twists behind the motives and methods of, well, murder-killing. Check it out!
thenonessential.libsyn.com/episode-249-...
January 17, 2024 at 5:24 PM
nonessential.bsky.social
This week, Steve starts what will probably be a serial-topic, but for once, not about serial killers. Check out BlackNumber1's 'Pasta Noir: Dames, Slugs, and the Hatchetman part 1.'
creepypasta.fandom.com/wiki/Pasta_N...
Silhouette of a man in a fedora because it's kind of detective-y I guess
December 19, 2023 at 3:03 PM
nonessential.bsky.social
A day late, but who's counting? Check out 'The Good Doctor Locklear' by Madam Macabre, as read by Ben.

thenonessential.libsyn.com/episode-246-...
Plague doctor, though he's yet to show us his qualifications.
December 13, 2023 at 2:32 PM
nonessential.bsky.social
This week, Steve jumps off the horror creepypasta gravy-train, then gets flattened by the crime creepypasta steam-roller. Check out 'Crime Scene' from Triololo:

thenonessential.libsyn.com/episode-245-...
December 5, 2023 at 8:33 PM
nonessential.bsky.social
This week, we've a double-dose of pasta, we'll say in honor of America's most stuffing'est holiday (Thanksgiving, not Valentine's.)

Check it out as Ben reads "Mr Trenchfoot" and prequel "In the Trenches" by MacaroniArtZombeh

thenonessential.libsyn.com/episode-244-...
November 21, 2023 at 6:04 PM
nonessential.bsky.social
An "investigative journalist" stumbles onto the easiest-to-uncover cover-up when they randomly chose to investigate the derelict Happy Sun Daycare in this week's creepypasta episode:

thenonessential.libsyn.com/episode-243-...
Close-up of a wolf's face / eyes, that should probably be intimidating but I kind of still want to just boop its snoot.
November 14, 2023 at 7:13 PM
nonessential.bsky.social
In honor of Halloween, we're bringing you the scariest story ever told (about wallpaper) ((ever told on our show.)) Ben reads the weirdly wonderful 'A Tear in the Wallpaper' by Umbrello.
thenonessential.libsyn.com/episode-242-...
A stock photo of torn wallpaper because that's as creative as Steve can be on a Tuesday morning.
October 31, 2023 at 3:48 PM
nonessential.bsky.social
After an extended absence, and the collective sigh of relief from listeners around the globe, we've returned to bring you a beef-based creepypasta. Check out The Beef Bandit (available now): creepypasta.fandom.com/wiki/The_Bee...
A very accusatory cow.
October 24, 2023 at 3:24 PM
nonessential.bsky.social
There's no new show this week because Steve got kidnapped by family responsibilities. Yuk.

However, we have like 5 years worth of shows so there's probably at least one you haven't listened to. And it is, of course, the best one. Go see what you've been missing!

thenonessential.libsyn.com
The Nonessential Podcast logo. A logo so iconic, Nike offered to buy it.
October 10, 2023 at 2:45 PM
nonessential.bsky.social
This week, Ben stumbles bass-ackwards into perhaps the best creepypasta ever written. And for once, I'm not being sarcastic. Check out CynicalSloth's 'Eric Floc's Sad Men.'

thenonessential.libsyn.com/episode-240-...
An unassuming bowl of Marlon Brand-O's.
October 3, 2023 at 1:09 PM