Moms After Dark: The Wine Down Truth

Oh Gross! is where we stop asking “for a friend.” We ask the icky, sticky, slightly embarrassing questions out loud, then get real answers from people who know. Investigative journalist and producer Kara Kurcz and her scientist bestie Jennie Lasater dig into taboo health topics, wild headlines, and the stuff that makes you go, “Wait… WHAT?” Along the way, they separate the facts from the viral fiction. Morticians, bed bugs, parasites, pimples, and the myths you’ve believed for way too long. If it makes you squirm, we’re on it. 🪱 You might laugh. You might gag. But you’ll learn something you didn’t see coming. 🤢😂 It’s not weird. It’s just science. 🎙️ Subscribe for new episodes every week (or whenever something gross comes up) 🌐 https://ohgross.com 📱 Follow us: @ItsOhGross Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Why do moms stay up so late when they're already exhausted? Because after taking care of everyone else all day, nighttime is finally their time! Whether it's 17 drinks beside the bed or stealing 20 uninterrupted minutes of peace, sometimes moms just need a little time to themselves. Laura Wilfon, former TV news journalist, mom influencer and creator of Wine at Bedtime, joins Kara, Jennie and Molly for a hilarious, unfiltered conversation about motherhood, bedtime chaos, nighttime anxiety and the things moms really do after dark. They cover:• Why moms stay up late even when they're exhausted• Laura's star jar system for rewarding good behavior• How to make bedtime calmer without losing your cool• The night-before routine that makes mornings easier• Why Laura gives her kids the chores she hates• Mom overload, nighttime anxiety and finding time for yourself From parenting wins to questionable decisions, including grooming the family dog after a few glasses of wine, Laura shares the funny, frustrating and very real side of motherhood. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We talk about planning for just about everything in life, except death. But what happens when we don't have those conversations? Who makes the decisions? Who pays for the funeral? And what happens when the people we love are left trying to figure it all out while they're grieving? After more than 30 years in funeral homes, Kari the Mortician has seen firsthand how avoiding conversations about death can create unnecessary stress, financial burdens and even more trauma for families. Kari joins Kara and Molly to talk about why planning for our own death is one of the most important things we can do for the people we leave behind. As a funeral director, she considers herself a "last responder," helping families navigate some of the most difficult moments of their lives. Here's what you'll learn: Have the conversation before it's too late. Why talking openly about death, burial wishes and funeral arrangements can spare your family additional heartache. Create an "if I die" file. What your family needs to know about your will, life insurance, finances, passwords and final wishes. Know who makes the decisions. Why the person legally responsible for your funeral arrangements may not be the person you'd expect and laws vary state to state. Understand the financial burden. How a lack of planning can leave loved ones facing unexpected expenses and difficult decisions. Make your goodbye personal. From golf-club salutes to motorcycle hearses, Kari shares some of the most memorable ways families have honored their loved ones. Know what really happens after death. Kari explains embalming, cremation, why cremated remains aren't actually ashes and some of the biggest misconceptions about the funeral industry. Kari also shares what it really means to be a "last responder," including stories of funeral directors who moved into funeral homes during COVID to protect their own families while continuing to care for others. After sharing her unexplained ghost stories in last week's Oh Gross! Season 3 premiere, Kari returns for a very different conversation about death, one that most of us probably should have long before we think we need to. Because planning for your own death isn't just about what happens to you. It's about taking care of the people you leave behind. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Oh Gross! Season 3 premieres just in time for Halloween with Jennie and Kara sharing ghost stories! Then Molly and Kara ask the question everyone wants to ask a mortician: Have you ever seen a ghost??? Deathcare content creator, funeral director, and embalmer “Kari the Mortician” shares her true tales from the crypt, drawn from more than 30 years of growing up and working in a Michigan funeral home. Known for taking the fear and mystery out of death, Kari joins Kara and Molly to kick off Season 3 with the unexplained moments she still can’t shake. They cover: Why she has had more unexplained experiences at home than at work Why she thinks old funeral homes, not the bodies in them, are what’s haunted Bolted doors that open, unexplained footsteps, and a good crime story. Season 3 premiere Halloween episode is for anyone who has wondered what goes bump in the night… Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On Oh Gross, we explore the complicated laws of self-defense. Gun laws, self-defense rights, and use-of-force rules vary wildly by state, and most people have no idea what applies to them.  This week, Kara, Jennie, and Molly sit down with Kara’s dear friend, veteran crime journalist Tom Morris Jr., for a conversation everyone should hear, no matter where you stand on guns. Kara and Tom have worked together for over two decades, on shows such as America’s Most Wanted and Live PD. Together, they break down how self-defense laws evolved in America, from the dueling Wild West to today, and why so many dangerous myths still exist, including misinformation shared in gun stores and online. Tom has been passionate about responsible gun ownership, legal awareness, and the real-world consequences of misinformation for the past 15 years. They also cover: What to do the moment you bring a firearm home The self-defense and gun laws in your state, you need to understand The most common and dangerous myths about firearms and the use of force Why people avoid this conversation and why that can be risky Tom’s real-life road rage incident involving his own legally owned firearm and what he did instead Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Next Thursday, veteran TV correspondent and “crime fighter” Tom Morris Jr. joins Kara Kurcz for a candid conversation on self-defense. Reuniting as longtime colleagues from America’s Most Wanted and Live PD, the discussion brings firsthand experience from years of covering real cases. Joined by Jennie Lasater and Molly Brandenberger, the group shares behind-the-scenes stories while breaking down how self-defense laws vary by state, what people often misunderstand, and how real-world cases highlight the complexities of protecting oneself. Full episode drops next week! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

You can vote for Oh Gross to win the People's Voice here: ⁠wbby.co/57425N Oh Gross! is nominated a 2nd time in a row for a Webby Award (Science & Education) for our episode “Gas Station Heroin: The Kratom Crisis.” Just click Vote, sign up (free), and confirm. You can vote once per email through April 16. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Here is a sneak peek of our conversation with veteran crime journalist and former America's Most Wanted correspondent Tom Morris Jr. He tackles the self-defense conversation people are uncomfortable having, but everyone needs to hear.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Your ears have a secret life: bugs, buildup, and the truth about Q-tips with infectious disease expert Dr. Steve Threlkeld. On this episode of Oh Gross!, Dr. Steve Threlkeld joins Kara and Jennie to break down the secret life of your ears! It is all about earwax and why trying to get rid of it might be the worst thing you can do. And whatever you do… put down the Q-tip. Plus, the ER story you won’t forget involves a live cockroach on a Saturday night. In this episode: What earwax really is How one gene can determine what’s inside your ears/  The bacteria, fungi, and mold living in your ears right now The cockroach ER story that will change how you think about your ears When to see an ENT and when to leave it alone The surprising link between hearing loss and dementia Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

St. Patrick’s Day is here, using the luck of the Irish to get down and dirty with the holiday’s grossest realities. Join Kara, Molly, and Jennie for an unfiltered look at the traditions that leave a trail of questionable decisions and bacteria in their wake. This episode highlights: The "Urination Olympics": Discover why St. Paddy's Day causes more than a “wee” spike in public urination offenses in major cities like Chicago and New York. Top O’ The Morning After: We talk about the massive surge in green-tinted bathroom trips The Blarney Stone: You may get the gift of gab from kissing it, but do you take home anything else from the two-billion-year-old rock that hundreds of thousands of people smooch every year? Holiday Traditions: From "drowning the shamrock"  to the secret history of green beer and green-dyed tuna fish to St. Patrick himself- we cover it all.  Grab a green drink—but maybe watch how much dye you use—and celebrate the holiday with us. Sláinte! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices