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
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
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 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
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
nonessential.bsky.social
This week, Steve takes a look at some of the lore and legends of a mystical, far-off place known only as 'Idaho'

thenonessential.libsyn.com/episode-239-...
The Nirvana / Nevermind Album Baby. Because it's a baby. In the water. And this episode talks about the legend of water babies. Aren't we clever?
September 26, 2023 at 2:20 PM
nonessential.bsky.social
This week, Ben takes a look at a number of interesting duels throughout history, including one in which a man kills another man using only his balls*

*this statement is technically correct

thenonessential.libsyn.com/episode-238-...
Screenshot from the 1977 film, 'The Duelist'
September 19, 2023 at 3:49 PM
nonessential.bsky.social
This week, we've got the story of Issei Sagawa; a little man with a huge appetite, but not the stomach for it.

Spoiler alert: Cannibalism is only one of his "eccentricities."
thenonessential.libsyn.com/episode-237-...
Issei Sagawa, the Kobe Cannable.
September 12, 2023 at 1:48 PM
nonessential.bsky.social
This week, Ben sneaks deep into the Disney vault to bring us two Walt-themed creepypasta. Check out Suicidemouse.avi & Club 33: A Dark Secret.

Also enjoy this copyright-dodging Windows paint work from Steve.
thenonessential.libsyn.com/episode-236-...
A hastily-scribbled picture of a certain cartoon mouse walking down the street.
September 5, 2023 at 1:52 PM
nonessential.bsky.social
In 1902, Ludger Sylbaris survived the Mt Peleé eruption thanks to having been locked up in solitary confinement in a small, concrete, windowless cell.

I think the scars are way better than a teardrop tattoo.

Ep 137, "A Bad Day on Mt Peleé" thenonessential.libsyn.com/episode-137-...
A photograph of the badly scarred, yet seemingly unphased Ludger Sylbaris, survivor of the 1902 Mt Peleé eruption.
August 31, 2023 at 4:38 PM
nonessential.bsky.social
To celebrate being on BlueSky, I've published this week's show a day early!

Check out the story of Karl Denke and his famous skinless pickled "pork." thenonessential.libsyn.com/episode-235-...
Two little pigs smiling because they know they have nothing to fear from Karl Denk, despite his successful pickled pork gig.
August 28, 2023 at 3:52 PM