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Florida Freakshow

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Florida headlines, served with disbelief.

The gist

Florida Freakshow tracks bizarre Sunshine State news with a two-speaker rhythm of headline setup, disbelief, and punchline. Its range runs from hurricane survival and vaccine schemes to naked trespassing, flamethrower disputes, invasive creatures, and unlucky criminals.

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About Florida Freakshow

Florida Freakshow turns Florida weird news into brisk editorial comedy. The show’s material comes from headlines about the Sunshine State, but the pleasure is in the back-and-forth: one strange fact lands, another reaction arrives, and the story becomes a running test of how much absurdity a place can contain. It is not a sober local-news roundup. It is a guided tour through public foolishness, unlucky criminals, strange animal encounters, storm behavior, and the kind of civic oddity that becomes instantly recognizable as Florida. The excerpts point to a consistent subject range. There are naked incidents, parking-space disputes, lottery-ticket robberies, drive-through meltdowns, vaccination schemes, fake exemption claims, trash-truck scares, flamethrower escalation, invasive species, zoo mishaps, and creatures in bathrooms. The show also makes space for Hurricane Ian, where the tone shifts from punchline-first to personal and communal. That episode still notices freakish behavior, but it also talks about neighbors helping, volunteer groups arriving, and line workers coming in after the storm. That gives the show a little more depth than a pure oddball-headline feed. Florida is still funny here, but it is also lived-in. The recurring rhythm is conversational and teasing, with plenty of quick asides before the next strange item arrives. The speakers frequently frame stories as “ripped from the headlines,” and the show invites people to share more Florida news through its forum and social pages. That participatory feel helps explain the show’s shape: it behaves like a running collection of state-specific incidents, with community submissions feeding the next round of disbelief. The comedy is cleanly understood even when the subject matter is messy. Some stories involve crime, poisoning, weapons, disasters, nudity, or reckless behavior, so the show is best approached as irreverent headline comedy rather than light lifestyle chat. Its strongest hook is specificity. Plenty of shows cover dumb criminals or bizarre news, but Florida Freakshow keeps returning to one place until the state itself becomes the recurring character.

Made for: Suits a listener who wants weird-news comedy with fast setups, local specificity, and a steady stream of absurd Florida incidents. It also fits someone who likes conversational reactions more than straight reporting.

What sets it apart: Florida Freakshow narrows the bizarre-news format to one state and lets repetition become the joke: storms, animals, petty crimes, and public meltdowns all feed the same Sunshine State mythology.

In their own words

Florida Man... need we say more? There's no shortage of weird news stories in Florida. The Florida Freakshow podcast chronicles all that is bizarre, odd, strange, outlandish, peculiar, kooky, quirky, weird, and downright freaky in Florida. Florida's headlines are filled with (unintentional) comedy. Veteran journalists Cory and Kirsten O'Donnell share their humorous takes on recent headlines from around our great state. This freak show is a celebration of the Sunshine State: From Jacksonville down the east coast to Daytona, West Palm Beach, and Miami; Pensacola, Panama City, Tallahassee, and the panhandle; and Tampa-St. Pete, Sarasota, Fort Myers, Naples, and even Key West. Celebrate our Grea…

Florida weird newsodd crime storieshurricane aftermathCOVID-era behavioranimal encountersinvasive speciesdrive-through incidentslistener-submitted headlines

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Episodes

  1. 1

    86 - Surviving Hurricane Ian Stories -- Freakshow is Back!

    Hidden gem

    Cory and Kirsten O'Donnell of Cape Coral, Florida returned to Florida Freakshow after a month-long absence to recount surviving Hurricane Ian as civilians for the first time — having previously always worked storms as TV journalists and city public information officers.

    Oct 26, 2022·57m·3 clips
  2. 2

    85 - Sister Brawl at Disney, Stealing Crossbows, Passenger Popped by Police; Suitcase Scooter Too Drunk To Fly

    Mar 16, 2022·26m
  3. 3

    84 - Needle Fishin', Emojis for Drugs, Freak Magnets, Fishy Mick Jagger

    Corey and Kirsten O'Donnell assemble four Florida news stories involving syringes, dating apps, magnets, and a Mick Jagger impersonation claim.

    Feb 23, 2022·25m·1 clip
  4. 4

    83 - Library Fraud, Dark Web Karen, NASA Needs You, Shirtless in a Waffle House

    Corey and Kirsten O'Donnell recount a Jacksonville library treasurer's alleged $132,000 fraud and a Florida dark-web murder-for-hire order funded with $12,000 in Bitcoin.

    Feb 9, 2022·27m·1 clip
  5. 5

    82 - Pedicure Panic, Stealing Grandma's Card Money, Blast from the Past, Glitter Bombs Florida-Style

    Jan 26, 2022·26m
  6. 6

    81 - Naked Truckin', Slippin' Mickeys, Fun with Flamethrowers, Fakin' a COVID Coma

    Hidden gem

    Hosts Cory and Kirsten O'Donnell cover four Florida news items: a naked 40-year-old named Richard Blows who stole a Dodge Ram from a Melbourne Fiat dealership after spending the morning walking around in his underwear; a Jacksonville woman named Alvis Parrish who called police to report herself for poisoning her boyfriend with Seroquel because he would not stop talking; a 57-year-old Gainesville man named Andre Abrams who aimed a flamethrower at a neighbor's car over a parking dispute; and a Gilchrist County sheriff's detective named Trent Kelly Freeman who forged doctor signatures on FMLA paperwork to fake a coma and work a second job while coworkers donated nearly $4,000 in sick leave.

    Jan 12, 2022·25m·1 clip
  7. 7

    80 - Christmas Special 2021 - Yule Tide Tales from the Ghost of Freakshow Past

    Dec 22, 2021·33m
  8. 8

    79 - Cocaine Blowing in the Car, Stolen Bucket Truck, BJ in the Back Seat, Machete in the Bathrooms

    Dec 8, 2021·28m
  9. 9

    78 - Wicked Pisser at Rockville, A Dog and his Mansion, Fined for Christmas Lights, Machete vs. Gun

    Nov 24, 2021·33m
  10. 10

    77 - Cuffed And On The Run, Fishing for Guns in Florida, Pub Sub Tattoos, Body Spray Stickup

    Nov 10, 2021·27m
  11. 11

    76 - Taxman Steals $$ - Florida Man Geno from Philly - Rum Swords and Fire - Bruce Lee County

    Oct 27, 2021·22m
  12. 12

    75 - Crazy Carjacking, Selling Back A Stolen Car, Back Seat Betty, Hero Dog Goes Full 'Lassie'

    Oct 13, 2021·20m
  13. 13

    74 - Diving for Tails, HR Rampage, Naked Lady Golf-diva, A Tree Grows in Pothole

    Sep 22, 2021·25m
  14. 14

    73 - Exposing to Florida Mom, Dropping Pants at Stakeout, UFO Driving Saucer, DUI at Wendy's

    Sep 8, 2021·23m
  15. 15

    72 - Fake Vax Cards for Kids, Candy Bar Robbery, Stealing $$ for Webcam Girls, Blow's in the Mail

    Aug 25, 2021·18m
  16. 16

    71 - Duct Taped to an Airline Seat, Assault on a Plane, Fake F-B-I Agent flees on Moped, Friends Bites off Ear in Key West

    Aug 18, 2021·26m
  17. 17

    70 - Serial Skinny Dipper, Messing with Jaguars, Penis Snakes, Toilet Iguanas

    Hidden gem

    Hosts Cory and Kirsten O'Donnell cover four Florida news stories: a naked woman named Heather Kennedy who broke into a stranger's pool in Charlotte County and refused to identify herself to deputies; a Florida man who climbed into the Jacksonville Zoo's jaguar exhibit and was clawed by a 12-year-old jaguar named Harry; the arrival of a legless amphibian known as a penis snake near Miami International Airport; and a Hollywood, Florida resident named Kurt Hilberth who found a spiny-tailed iguana in his toilet for three consecutive days.

    Aug 11, 2021·23m·1 clip
  18. 18

    69 - Nazi Face Masks, Stabbed over a Beer, Power Employee Scams, Man Shoots Himself in a Bar

    Aug 4, 2021·23m
  19. 19

    68 - Dinosaur Dung at Poozeum, Groom Fight at FLA Wedding, Ice Cream (Police) Truck, Golf Sinkholes

    Jul 29, 2021·25m
  20. 20

    67 - 'Fake News' Florida Freakshow - Fake Doctor Does Surgery, Fake Fugitive Janitor, Hiding Drugs in Fake Leg, Fake Fiance Catfishing

    Jul 21, 2021·31m
  21. 21

    66 - Scuba Mansion in The Keys, Fred the Victorian Ghost, 'One Beer' DUI, Skunk Ape Snub

    Jul 14, 2021·28m
  22. 22

    Ep. 65: Octopus Artist, Trouble in Niceville, Arson by Laundry, Salsa Chucking at 7-11 Customers

    Jul 7, 2021·34m
  23. 23

    Ep. 64: Lotto Tickets Robbery, Prison Wallet Shaft Stash, Cream Cheese Gunplay, Booze Charged with DUI

    Hosts Cory and Kirsten O'Donnell humorously discuss bizarre Florida news stories, including a failed gas station robbery and other odd headlines.

    Jun 30, 2021·26m
  24. 24

    Ep. 63: Crook in the Water, Bitcoin and COVID, City Sells Water Tower, Kid steals Lambo SUV

    Jun 23, 2021·29m
  25. 25

    Ep. 62: Life-Threatening Iguana, Car Chase Baby Toss, City Naughty List Exposed, Gun Flashed over Bathroom

    Jun 16, 2021·27m
  26. 26

    Ep. 61: Vaccine Discount, Naked Pilot Exposed, $5,000 for Sex, Car Drives into Home

    Jun 9, 2021·27m
  27. 27

    Ep. 60: Hotel Pool Crasher, Yearbook Photo Shopaholics, Sex Toys for Charity, Naked Car Hopping

    Jun 2, 2021·27m
  28. 28

    Ep. 59: Gas Hoarders, Car Crashers (Twice!), Designated Drunk Drivers, School Invaders

    May 26, 2021·32m
  29. 29

    Ep. 58: Carole Baskin Goes Cryptocurrency; Burger King 'Karen' hurls Whopper, racial slur; Potted Toilets on Cape Coral yard; $30K in Fines for Tall Grass

    May 19, 2021·27m
  30. 30

    Ep 57: Scary Florida Spiders, Drug Bust in Leg, Drive-By Biting, SCOHOL Road Closing

    May 12, 2021·28m
  31. 31

    Ep. 56: Baby Dinosaurs in Palm Coast, Tarot Card Blessings in Naples, Haunted Jail Sale in Trenton, Wedding Crashers

    May 5, 2021·31m
  32. 32

    Ep. 55: Tasering 'Special Agent Man', Fireball in the Sky, Drawbridge Daredevils, COVID Loan Scammers

    Apr 28, 2021·31m
  33. 33

    Ep. 54: Spoiled Threats, Children's Book Stolen, Pants-less Man at School, World Record Fingernails

    Apr 21, 2021·26m
  34. 34

    Ep. 53: OnStar recovers stolen car, Disney Dad Banned, Emotional Support Snake, Avengers Endgame Fan Sets Movie Mark

    Apr 14, 2021·29m
  35. 35

    Ep. 52: UFC SuperSpreader Sellout, Tesla Teen Joyride, Naked Women Rescue from Drain, Car Runs Over Person onPlayground

    Apr 7, 2021·26m
  36. 36

    Ep. 51: Spring Break Out; Homecoming Queen's Gambit; Snake on a Sedan; Drunk at McDonalds

    Mar 31, 2021·26m
  37. 37

    Ep. 50: Stripper Fight Club, Drive-Thru Donations, Three Holes-in-One, Fake Docs doing Botox

    Mar 24, 2021·27m
  38. 38

    Ep. 49: BMW Crash Half-Naked, Loose Lips Sink Freaks, South Beach Snafu, Naked on a Trampoline

    Mar 17, 2021·20m
  39. 39

    Ep. 48: $100K in Parking Fines, Neighbors shooting neighbors, Bank Robbed in a Wheelchair, Seafood Stealing at Costco

    Mar 10, 2021·28m
  40. 40

    Ep. 47: COVID Cohorts, Masquerade without Masks, Boy Found in Trash Truck, Drunk Sisters Snafu

    Hosts Cory and Kirsten O'Donnell humorously discuss bizarre Florida news stories, including a vaccine exemption scam and a kid playing in trash.

    Mar 3, 2021·27m
  41. 41

    Ep. 46: Orange Co. Catfishing Crooks; Big Rig Beer Spill, Freaky Florida River Monster, Skeleton Guitar

    Feb 24, 2021·26m
  42. 42

    Ep. 45: Super Bowl Joyride, Something in the Water, Florida Forehead Tattoo, Stinky City

    Feb 17, 2021·30m
  43. 43

    Ep. 44: Meth Backpack, Delivery Driver Steals Puppy, Drag Queen School Pickup, Rod Stewart Sucker Punch

    Feb 10, 2021·27m
  44. 44

    Ep. 43: Naked Guy Joyride, Million Dollar Whorehouse, Olympics in Florida, Birthday Jail Break

    Feb 3, 2021·25m
  45. 45

    Ep. 42: Floating Tiki Hut Stolen; Topless Fight in Miami; Sinkhole at Sports Bar; Can't Stop, Won't Stop

    Jan 27, 2021·20m
  46. 46

    Ep. 41: Arrested on Instagram, Neighborhood War Tank, Hemingway Heroes, Fugitive Freak

    Jan 20, 2021·27m
  47. 47

    Ep. 40: Airboat JoyRide, Fireworks Burn Down Home, Doctor Deception, Truck Arson to 'Help Deputies'

    Jan 13, 2021·24m
  48. 48

    Ep. 39: Commissioner Bar Fight, Golf Clubs Launched into Traffic, Python Cookies, Passed Out at Traffic Light

    Jan 6, 2021·30m
  49. 49

    Ep. 38: 2020 Year in Review | Freaky Four Top Stories of the Year

    Hosts Corey and Kirsten O'Donnell recap the weirdest Florida news stories of 2020, chosen by listener votes.

    Dec 30, 2020·32m
  50. 50

    Ep. 37: 55 Gallons of Headache, Haircut Attack, Son of Shatner, Mailbox Pooping Bandit

    Dec 23, 2020·30m