We're going independent

Fair warning, in this episode we’re talking about suicide and abuse. A few weeks ago, Grant’s brother Drew died by suicide. He was a life coach. Today, Grant tells Drew’s story, and with Ryan, they take a look at the wellness industry and its ties to a variety of conspiracy theories and scams. If you or someone you know is struggling with suicidal thoughts, call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 800-273-TALK (8255). You can also reach out to the Crisis Text Line, a free, 24/7 confidential text messaging service that provides support to people in crisis when they text 741741. Find other international suicide helplines at Befrienders Worldwide (befrienders.org). Buy tickets to Panic World’s FIRST-EVER LIVE SHOW on November 28 in NYC! Along with Katie Notopoulos, the Garbage Media team will inflict the worst things on the internet in 2026 upon an unsuspecting Grant. Tickets: https://caveat.nyc/events/garbage-day-worst-things-on-the-internet-2026-2026-11-28 Get the extended conversation, as well as other ad-free episodes, bonuses & exclusives, and access to our members-only Discord, on our Patreon. Sign up for a membership for just $6.66 a month at https://www.patreon.com/PanicWorld. Credits - Host: Ryan Broderick - Producer: Grant Irving - Production Coordinator: Josh Fjelstad - Researcher: Adam Bumas Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On Tuesday’s midterms, the Democrats were finally not in disarray — and despite all the handwringing, we got a blue tsunami that was “too big to rig.” How did they do it, or perhaps more importantly, how did the Republicans mess this up so badly? Ryan & Grant analyze the election results and submit that the GOP got too bad at the internet. Liberals abandoning Twitter after it became X left right-wingers in an echo chamber where they had no one to fight but themselves, and neglected all the other platforms they should’ve been focusing on. Plus, are Democrats going through the party transformation the GOP did in the mid-2000s (except in a good way)? And is Trump really Hitler, or is he more like the kaiser who leads to the real baddie? This is a preview from our Patreon. Want to hear the rest of the conversation, and enjoy other ad-free episodes, bonuses & exclusives, and access to our members-only Discord? Sign up for a membership for just $6.66 a month at https://www.patreon.com/PanicWorld. ⁠Buy tickets to Panic World’s FIRST-EVER LIVE SHOW⁠ on November 28 in NYC! Along with Katie Notopoulos, the Garbage Media team will inflict the worst things on the internet in 2026 upon an unsuspecting Grant. Get your tickets here, sickos: ⁠https://caveat.nyc/events/garbage-day-worst-things-on-the-internet-2026-2026-11-28⁠ Credits - Host: Ryan Broderick - Producer: Grant Irving - Production Coordinator: Josh Fjelstad - Researcher: Adam Bumas Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Have you ever wanted to know what life is like in a McMansion somewhere in the suburbs all across America? Today we’re talking about family vloggers, the “parent influencers” who inflict psychic damage on their children in order to make content. From music videos extolling the virtues of “Xmas Jammies” to everyday chores, special vacations, birthday parties, pranks, and a whole lot of dancing, these parents create seemingly wholesome and maybe inspirational videos. But are they really? Katie Gatti Tassin of Diabolical Lies and Money with Katie joins us to trace the “Vine to vlogger” pipeline of the early 2010s, what the draw of watching parent influencers might be, and the impact having your whole childhood on camera has on the children in these families. Our guest Katie Gatti Tassin is an author and podcaster. She hosts Diabolical Lies and Money with Katie, which you can find everywhere you listen to podcasts. She also wrote Rich Girl Nation: Taking Charge of Our Financial Futures, available at your local bookstore or online. Buy tickets to Panic World’s FIRST-EVER LIVE SHOW on November 28 in NYC! Along with Katie Notopoulos, the Garbage Media team will inflict the worst things on the internet in 2026 upon an unsuspecting Grant. Get your tickets here, sickos: https://caveat.nyc/events/garbage-day-worst-things-on-the-internet-2026-2026-11-28 Want even more Panic World content? Like ad-free episodes, bonuses & exclusives, and access to our members-only Discord? Sign up for a membership for just $6.66 a month at https://www.patreon.com/PanicWorld. Credits - Host: Ryan Broderick - Producer: Grant Irving - Production Coordinator: Josh Fjelstad - Researcher: Adam Bumas Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Earlier this year, prolific and beloved actor Tim Curry passed away, and of course, his loss was the perfect time to kick off some discourse about his most well-known role: Frank-N-Furter. While it's still spooky season, we've decided to answer the question everyone has been asking since: Is Rocky Horror Picture Show problematic, or is Gen Z just a bunch of weird little prudes? Chelsey Weber-Smith joins us to dissect the most iconic musical horror comedy film, looking back at its transgressive depictions of gender and sexuality, social commentary, how it holds up today, and obviously — what characters in RHPS Ryan, Grant, & Chelsey identify as. Our guest Chelsey Weber-Smith hosts American Hysteria, a kindred podcast about moral panics, urban legends, conspiracy theories, hoaxes, and all the freaky stuff that's shaped US culture since before it even was the US. Check it out here or wherever you get your podcasts. Want even more Panic World content? Like ad-free episodes, bonuses & exclusives, and access to our members-only Discord? Sign up for a membership for just $6.66 a month at https://www.patreon.com/PanicWorld. Credits - Host: Ryan Broderick - Producer: Grant Irving - Production Coordinator: Josh Fjelstad - Researcher: Adam Bumas Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In 2010, Hasbro launched a new generation of My Little Pony toys, and debuted a nice little television show to accompany it. It was called My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic, and over a million people tuned into its premiere. Although perhaps not the kind of people Hasbro big wigs expected. No, instead, the “Brony” was born — guys who might have seemed kind of innocent in the beginning (although even that is debatable), but Bronies grew into an unstoppable force of fully grown men looking “respectfully” at a bunch of cute, big-eyed, flamboyantly colored, personified horses that were designed for kids. PJ Vogt joins us once again, despite knowing what he signed up for, to learn more about this subculture built around elaborate lore, conventions, tasteful art, “clopping,” tulpas, a certain interesting project involving a jar — and how Bronies have impacted broader internet culture. Our guest PJ Vogt hosts the podcast Search Engine. Check it out on Apple, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts. Want even more Panic World content? Like ad-free episodes, bonuses & exclusives, and access to our members-only Discord? Sign up for a membership for just $6.66 a month at https://www.patreon.com/PanicWorld. Credits - Host: Ryan Broderick - Producer: Grant Irving - Production Coordinator: Josh Fjelstad - Researcher: Adam Bumas Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Have you ever been gang stalked? Or gang stalked someone? Hopefully not. But if you don’t even know what that is, today we’re talking about a weird little thing called “gang stalking.” That’s when TIs (“targeted individuals”) believe they’re being followed by… someone. Or a group of unknown people who seek to ruin the TI’s life through constant surveillance and harassment. Who are the people who think they’re being gang stalked, and why? Carson Pace of the Callous Daoboys joins us to talk about his fascination with the gang stalking community and its history. We’re going way back to 1995, with its origins on the “Mind Control Forum,” to “Gang Stalking World,” and up till today’s modern incarnations like r/gangstalking — and obviously its connections to QAnon, Pizzagate, and Epstein. Our guest and TI, Carson Pace, can be found on X, the everything app @Carsondaoboys or on Instagram @carsonfromdaoboys. You can also find Callous Daoboys everywhere you listen to banging music — or if you’re in Europe, they’re kicking off a tour in November. Speaking of tours, catch Garbage Day LIVE in Brooklyn on October 27th at Baby’s All Right: https://wl.eventim.us/event/garbage-day/705215?afflky=BabysAllRightBrooklyn&utm_source=www.garbaged And in Washington, DC on November 18th at Pubkey: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/garbage-day-live-presents-garbage-250-tickets-2003076360315 Want even more Panic World content? Like ad-free episodes, bonuses & exclusives, and access to our members-only Discord? Sign up for a membership for just $6.66 a month at https://www.patreon.com/PanicWorld. Sponsors If you’re struggling with OCD or unrelenting intrusive thoughts, NOCD can help. Book a free 15-minute call to get started at nocd.com/PANIC Credits - Host: Ryan Broderick - Producer: Grant Irving - Production Coordinator: Josh Fjelstad - Researcher: Adam Bumas Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Why are food videos so popular online? And why are the most viral ones also the grossest? Today we’re looking back at the history of food videos, from Food Wishes to the hands-only top-down video style pioneered by Tasty to making cereal in a toilet bowl pioneered by TikTok. Petey USA, a creator and musician who’s had a lot of really weird bad stuff to eat while on tour, joins us to about food video culture online — and why we don’t care if it’s good, bad, or absolutely horrifying — we’re gonna gobble that slop right up. Our guest is musician Petey USA, whose work you can find at https://www.peteyswebsite.com/, anywhere you listen to music, or check out his TikTok @peteyusa. You can also catch him live Nov 27 + 28 @ The Empty Bottle in Chicago and December 18 at The Independent in San Francisco.He released oooo, a new 8-song project, back in August. Want even more Panic World content? Like ad-free episodes, bonuses & exclusives, and access to our members-only Discord? Sign up for a membership for just $6.66 a month at https://www.patreon.com/PanicWorld. Sponsors If you’re struggling with OCD or unrelenting intrusive thoughts, NOCD can help. Book a free 15-minute call to get started at ⁠nocd.com/PANIC⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Sit down and take a seat with Ryan & Grant. They discuss the recent release of Primetime as a follow-up to this week’s episode. Want to hear the rest of this conversation? Or ad-free episodes, bonuses & exclusives, and access to our members-only Discord? Sign up for a membership for 6.66 bucks a month at https://www.patreon.com/PanicWorld. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

To Catch A Predator launched in 2004 and was immediately a massive hit, but despite its long-lasting cultural impact — highlighted by last week’s release of Primetime — it only ran for one season and twenty episodes. The show ended after an assistant District Attorney in Texas died by suicide. Is it ethically worse? Is this justice? Why does it feel so gross? Today we’re joined by Free Country USA to look at the legacy of the show and the trend of content creators trying to bust predators on their own. Follow Free Country USA @freecountryusa on YouTube, Instagram, and everywhere else you listen and watch pods. Want even more Panic World content? Like ad-free episodes, bonuses & exclusives, and access to our members-only Discord? Sign up for a membership for just five bucks a month at https://www.patreon.com/PanicWorld. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Who created the strongman hellscape that we’re currently living in? Today, we’re talking about the original looksmaxxer, Zyzz. He got his start online in 2006 with a popular World of Warcraft streaming account, whose earnings he used to join a gym, because he’d “always been obsessed with bodybuilding.” By 2010, he had amassed a huge following among outrageously jacked guys online. He finally figured out how to make money off this — by hawking supplements and other products — but then he passed away in 2011. However, by then he had laid the blueprint that the chads of the future would all follow. What happens next, is the world we live in now. Noah K of Crimes New Roman joins us to talk about the chads of the past, like Bloat Lord, Derb, and FPS Russia, and how these leading musclemen resulted in the big boys of the present, like Androgenic, Clavicular, and Zeta — and how they’ve managed to create a hell world of body dysmorphia for the nation’s young men. Our guest Noah K can be found on YouTube @CrimesNewRoman and you can also see their shitposts (their words) at https://bsky.app/profile/crimesnewroman.bsky.social. Note: This episode was recorded prior to Clavicular’s rape allegations. Want even more Panic World content? Like ad-free episodes, bonuses & exclusives, and access to our members-only Discord? Sign up for a membership at https://www.patreon.com/PanicWorld. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices