The Grim Curriculum

In Part 3 of our series on Robert Pickton, we continue putting the focus where it belongs, on the women whose lives were taken, and the stories that so often became overshadowed by the man responsible.

As we learn more about the victims, we also reach a pivotal moment in Pickton's story. One woman came remarkably close to surviving him, and her fight to escape would come closer than anything else to bringing his horrific spree to an end.

But despite her survival, the nightmare continued.

We continue to piece together the stories of...

We're only two episodes into our Robert Pickton series, and somehow, we've already covered A LOT.

In Part 2, we're beginning to look at the women who may have been among Robert Pickton's first known or possible victims, while continuing to follow what Pickton and the increasingly shady group of people around him were getting up to. The deeper we dig, the more unsettling the story becomes, and we're still only scratching the surface.

By the end of this episode, we arrive at the beginnings of what would become Piggie's Palace, the infamous property that would...

This week, we're bringing you a special mix of The Grim Curriculum and Extra Credit as we take a close look at the Lindsay Clancy case, the 2023 deaths of her three children in Duxbury, Massachusetts, and the trial that has raised difficult questions about mental illness, postpartum psychosis, criminal responsibility, and the limits of what we can truly know about someone else's state of mind.

With weeks of testimony now on the record, we break down the background, the major questions surrounding the case, and some of the details that have drawn significant public attention, while keeping...

This week on Extra Credit, we've got a whole collection of true crime updates, including some cases we've talked about before that have taken a few unexpected turns.

We start with a particularly bizarre update involving Chris Watts, followed by another development in the ongoing case of Dr. Gerhardt Konig.

Dina brings us back to the disturbing case involving 16 children found in rural Ohio, while Charlotte follows up on the nearly 30-year-old murder of Edmonton's Joanne Ghostkeeper and the long-awaited developments in her family's search for justice.

And, as always, we wrap things...

I thought I knew what we were recording for episode 213. I was wrong. Dina decided we're doing Robert Pickton. - Charlotte

This week, we're beginning a brand new series on one of the most notorious serial killers in Canadian history. And we're starting where we usually do, long before the murders, with Robert Pickton's childhood, his (very) strange family, and the odd world he grew up in.

Born into a pig-farming family in Port Coquitlam, British Columbia, Pickton spent much of his early life on the family farm alongside his siblings. As we start getting...

On July 31, 1987, a devastating F4 tornado carved a path through Edmonton and the surrounding area, forever changing the city and the people who lived through it.

Known as Black Friday, the tornado claimed 27 lives, injured hundreds more, and became one of the deadliest natural disasters in Canadian history.

This week, we're looking back at the events of that devastating day, from the storm's formation to the incredible stories of survival, the heroic rescue efforts, and the lasting impact it had on emergency preparedness across Alberta and Canada. Nearly four decades later, Black Friday remains a...

This week on Extra Credit, Dina kicks things off with a story that sounds like it belongs in Florida... except it happened in Massachusetts. A mime has found himself facing criminal harassment charges, and trust us, this isn't the kind of performance anyone asked for.

Charlotte then gives a well-deserved shoutout to Jimothy the raccoon, the internet's latest unlikely celebrity, before Dina reminds us that Florida Man is never far away with a story involving a pet store, pepper spray, and behaviour that will leave you thoroughly unimpressed.

Thankfully, there's some genuinely heartwarming news to...

For years, the Donnelly family lived under the shadow of suspicion, violence, and an ever-growing reputation that divided an entire community. In the end, that reputation would end in one of the most shocking acts of vigilante violence in Canadian history. Seriously, when we picked this case to talk about, we truly weren't prepared. In the final chapter of our series on the infamous "Black" Donnellys, we examine the devastating events that brought the family's story to its brutal conclusion. As fear, resentment, and rumours reached a boiling point, five members of the Donnelly family were brutally murdered, their...

In Part Two of our series on the infamous "Black" Donnellys, tensions in Biddulph Township continue to spiral as old rivalries turn increasingly violent. With accusations flying, loyalties tested, and the Donnelly family's reputation growing more notorious by the day, it's becoming harder to separate fact from fiction. As we follow the family through another turbulent chapter, we'll uncover shocking confrontations, retaliation, and the events that pushed an already divided community even closer to the breaking point. And just when we thought we were nearing the end of their story, we realized there was still far more left to...

This week on Extra Credit, we begin with heartbreaking breaking news out of rural Ohio, where four adults have been arrested after sixteen children, ranging from very young to 18 years old, were discovered living in deplorable conditions. With many questions still unanswered, we discuss what is known so far and why this is a case we'll be following closely as more information comes to light. We also cover the astonishing story of a student pilot in Argentina who was forced to land her aircraft alone after her instructor unexpectedly exited the plane mid-flight, a remarkable display of courage and...

This week, we're diving into the unbelievable story of the "Black" Donnellys, an Irish-Canadian family whose name became synonymous with feuds, revenge, and violence. What begins as the story of immigrants trying to carve out a life in rural Ontario quickly spirals into decades of bitter rivalries, courtroom battles, and shocking acts of brutality. In Part One, we explore the Donnellys' early years, the events that ignited a community-wide feud, and how a single family's reputation would grow into legend. As Dina quickly discovered while researching, this story was far too wild to fit into a single episode.

Grab your tinfoil hat and strap it on tight because we are heading down to Texas (figuratively speaking) to examine one of the most compelling modern UFO cases in recent memory. In January 2008, residents of Stephenville reported seeing strange lights and massive objects moving silently across the night sky. What began as a handful of eyewitness accounts quickly became a national story, drawing attention from the media, investigators, and even the military. With hundreds of witnesses, radar data, and conflicting explanations, the Stephenville Lights remain one of the most intriguing unexplained aerial phenomena of recent history. Were these sightings...

This week on Extra Credit, we have an update on Rex Heuermann as sentencing finally arrives. Dina also brings a story that is guaranteed to leave your jaw on the floor and a shudder up your spine, along with a few others, beginning with an incident at an Oklahoma Arby's that proves truth really is stranger than fiction. Meanwhile, Charlotte heads into science corner with news that the Large Hadron Collider is shutting down, but only so scientists can make it even more powerful. We also celebrate one of science's bravest, or perhaps most questionable, heroes: the man who...

In 1872, the Mary Celeste was discovered drifting alone in the Atlantic Ocean. The ship was seaworthy, its cargo was largely untouched, and the crew's personal belongings remained on board. Yet every person aboard had vanished without a trace. More than 150 years later, the fate of Captain Benjamin Briggs, his family, and the crew remains one of history's greatest maritime mysteries. Was it piracy, mutiny, a natural disaster, or something far stranger? In this episode, we separate fact from fiction, examine the evidence left behind, and explore the many theories that continue to fascinate historians and mystery enthusiasts alike.

This week on Grim Curriculum, we conclude our longest series to date with Part Six of our deep dive into Richard Ramirez, the monster known to the world as the Night Stalker.

After months of terror, countless victims, the hunt for Richard Ramirez finally reaches its dramatic conclusion. The poetic justice of the community he terrorized coming together to bring his reign of terror to an end is bittersweet.

In this final chapter, we follow the events leading to Ramirez's capture, the public reaction to his crimes, and the trial that would captivate the nation. <...

This week on Grim Curriculum: Extra Credit, we're checking in on a couple of familiar faces and, unsurprisingly, they're still making headlines.

First, we have updates on cases we've covered previously, including Nick Reiner, who remains determined to fight for his trust fund despite finding himself in increasingly hot water. We also revisit the case of an 87-year-old man recently sentenced for his third murder, proving that some people never seem to learn.

Of course, it wouldn't be Extra Credit without a trip to Florida. Dina brings us not one, but two Florida Man stories...

This week on Grim Curriculum, we're taking a brief break from our Night Stalker series for another installment of Grim Encounters.

These episodes are some of our favourites because the stories come directly from you. From unexplained experiences and strange coincidences to encounters that still leave people questioning what they witnessed, today's episode is filled with tales that are eerie, intriguing, and impossible to forget.

And for the first time ever, we've received a listener-submitted cryptid encounter. We could not be more excited to share it with you.

Whether you're a skeptic, a...

The walls are starting to close in on Richard in episode 5. As Ramirez continues his reign of terror across Los Angeles, the evidence against him continues to grow, and the mistakes he leaves behind become harder and harder to ignore. Feeling the pressure from the increasing attention surrounding his crimes, Richard briefly leaves Los Angeles for what could be described as a "vacation" in San Francisco. Ramirez has no interest in stopping, even when it would be in his best interests to law low and his violence follows him wherever he goes. Despite a series of devastating setbacks that...

This week on Grim Curriculum: Extra Credit, Dina is doing most of the heavy lifting while Charlotte recovers from her trip to Vancouver (she sunburned her forehead), but don't worry, we've still got a wonderfully strange collection of stories for you.

First up is a tale involving Tom Selleck... kind of. Not really. What starts out sounding amusing quickly becomes something much more tragic, serving as a reminder that scams can have devastating consequences. Next, we have a story about a dog left in a parked car. Before you jump to conclusions, this one doesn't go where...

Picking up where we left off, the city of Los Angeles remains gripped by fear as Ramirez continues his campaign of terror. Despite the growing media attention and mounting pressure from law enforcement, he has no intention of stopping. If anything, he is becoming more brazen, more violent, and more determined to escalate.

But while Richard Ramirez may have viewed himself as untouchable, in his mind he was blessed by Satan, investigators were steadily closing the gap. Though his crimes often appeared random and chaotic, the evidence he left behind was beginning to tell a story, and...

This week, we continue our deep dive into Richard Ramirez with Part Three of our Night Stalker series, which may be one of the longest series we’ve ever covered on the podcast. There’s so much history, psychology, investigative work, and social context wrapped up in the Night Stalker case that we felt rushing it would almost do it a disservice.

As Ramirez continues his violent rampage through Los Angeles, the attacks grow increasingly chaotic and brazen. He knows he does not want to stop, but with each new crime, investigators are getting closer. Homicide detectives Gil...

This week on Extra Credit, Dina brings a pile of updates, including the latest frustrating developments in the Alex Murdaugh case. We also talk about convicted family annihilator Scott Peterson and why the Innocence Project wasn't able to free him from prison. We wrap things up as per usual with a truly unfortunate case of “F around and find out” involving wildlife, specifically one extremely angry beaver.

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We continue our series on Richard Ramirez with Part Two, the chapter where Richard Ramirez fully evolves into the man who would become known as the “Night Stalker.” Now in Los Angeles, Ramirez descends further into addiction, violence, and chaos. His drug use spirals out of control, burglaries become routine, and he discovers what he views as the ultimate thrill, murder. As the attacks escalate in brutality and frequency, law enforcement begins to recognize that something far more sinister is unfolding across the city. Fear spreads, investigators scramble for answers, and the hunt for the Night Stalker begins.

Th...

This week on Grim Curriculum, we begin our 200th episode series on one of the most infamous serial killers in American history, Richard Ramirez, better known as the “Night Stalker.”

In Part One, we trace Ramirez’s early life, his family history, and the deeply disturbing environment that shaped his formative years before his move to Los Angeles at just 18 years old. Even at this stage of the story, the warning signs are staggering. Violence, trauma, abuse, and dangerous influences surrounded Ramirez from an early age, raising difficult questions about nature, nurture, and how monsters are made. While...

This week on Extra Credit, we’ve got a lineup of cases that just so happen to share one common thread, women, for better or for worse.

Dina brings three shorter stories to the table, while Charlotte delivers a longer history lesson, each case offering its own mix of chaos and consequences. Totally unplanned, but somehow perfectly aligned. And don’t worry, Dina didn’t forget to include a Florida Woman story.

Our strange and unusual death this week is the only one that doesn’t centre a woman, but let’s just say… it’s a classic ca...

This week we are stepping inside some of the most notorious asylums of the past, places where those deemed “unwell” were hidden away, often forgotten, and too often mistreated. Institutions like Philadelphia State Hospital, Danvers State Hospital, and Trans-Allegheny Lunatic Asylum were meant to provide care, but behind their walls, overcrowding, neglect, and harmful “treatments” became the reality for many patients.

We also examine the work of Nellie Bly, who risked her own safety by having herself committed to expose the conditions inside these institutions, bringing the public face to face with what was happening out of sight. T...

This week on The Grim Curriculum, we step into one of the internet age’s most bizarre and unsettling fringe groups: the Love Has Won cult, led by Amy Carlson.

What began as a spiritual movement quickly spiralled into something far stranger, blending New Age beliefs, online devotion, and increasingly extreme behaviour. Followers believed Carlson to be a divine being, a figure they called “Mother God”, and their dedication led them down a path that blurred the line between faith and control.

At the centre of it all is a striking contradiction: Carlson, who was revere...

Charlotte starts us off with an update in the Gerhardt Konig case, while Dina brings the latest from the Long Island Serial Killer investigation. Charlotte then shares some shocking old news from 2011 involving the actor behind McGruff the Crime Dog, proving that even the voices behind familiar faces can have a darker side. Dina follows with a truly horrifying home invasion story that feels like something straight out of a nightmare. Thankfully, Charlotte lightens things up with the tale of a flamboyant Florida gangster and fire chief whose disappearance remains unsolved to this day. Dina brings us right back...

Known for a trail of deception, violence, and suspicion that followed her across multiple states, Halliday was married multiple times, with several of her husbands dying under suspicious circumstances. At a time when female offenders were often underestimated or overlooked, her case stood out in a way few others did. She was a woman often described as one of the most dangerous in American history, she would go on to become the first woman in the United States sentenced to death by the electric chair, a decision that shocked the public and had the newspapers foaming at the mouth. <...

This week on Extra Credit we’re covering a mix of long awaited updates, ongoing trials, and stories that are as bizarre as they are unsettling.

Dina starts us off with an update on a long unsolved case linked to Ted Bundy. While we never enjoy talking about him, we are glad to share that another victim’s family has finally received some long overdue closure.

Charlotte follows up with a recent case out of Hawaii involving a doctor accused of attempting to murder his wife in what some are calling an “alpine divorce” style case. Th...

This week on The Grim Curriculum, we step away from the history books and into something a little more immediate, and a lot more unsettling. Drawing from Reddit’s “Let’s Not Meet” community, we explore a collection of real-life encounters that came far too close for comfort. These are moments where ordinary people found themselves face to face with something deeply wrong, situations that could have ended very differently with just one small change. From eerie gut feelings to narrow escapes, each story carries that lingering question: how close can you get to danger before you even realise you are...

After escaping from custody, Legere unleashed a wave of violence that sent shockwaves through Miramichi and surrounding communities. Fear took hold quickly. Residents locked their doors, routines changed overnight, and at the height of the panic, Halloween celebrations were even cancelled as the community grappled with the very real threat he posed.

Despite being physically strong, Legere repeatedly targeted vulnerable individuals. Senior citizens, isolated residents, and even members of the clergy were not safe from his attacks, adding another layer of fear and outrage to an already shaken community.

In this episode, we examine the...

Dina kicks things off with a case out of Utah involving Kouri Richins, who has now been sentenced. While the list of charges is extensive, we can’t help but feel like audacity should be included as well.

Charlotte then takes us into conspiracy territory with the Phantom Time Conspiracy, a theory that raises eyebrows, asks questions, and ultimately makes very little sense, but still manages to make you go “hmmm.”

Dina keeps things a little lighter with a recent story involving a slow moving, scaly reptile that somehow led to what might be the world’...

This week on Grim Curriculum, we are beginning our deep dive into the life and crimes of Canadian serial killer Allan Legere, the man known as the “Monster of the Miramichi.” In Part One, we start at the beginning, tracing Legere’s early life in Miramichi, where the warning signs were already present. What unfolds is a story that grows darker with time, as troubling behaviour escalates quickly into something way more disturbing. This was a case we knew very little about until Legere’s recent death in March 2026, and what we uncovered was far worse than we expected. This is...

On the morning of December 6, 1917, a collision in the harbour of Halifax triggered a chain of events that would end in catastrophe. When the munitions ship SS Mont-Blanc exploded, the blast devastated the city and created one of the largest non-nuclear explosions ever recorded. In this episode, we unpack the moments leading up to the disaster, the shocking aftermath, and the incredible acts of bravery and selflessness that emerged from the chaos. It’s a story of tragedy, resilience, and the people who rose to meet one of Canada’s darkest days.

Come hang out with...

Dina starts things off with a quick update on the case of the eleven year old boy who recently shot his father following an argument about a Nintendo Switch. She then follows it up with another tragic story out of Tipp City, Ohio, where a former worship leader and previous American Idol hopeful has been charged in the murder of his wife. To break up the heavier stories, Charlotte brings a few true crime cases that are strange enough they might actually have you giggling. Dina then brings things back into gruesome territory with a story involving an inmate...

This week on Grim Curriculum, we travel back to 16th century Germany to examine the chilling legend of Peter Stumpp, better known as the “Werewolf of Bedburg." A man known by several different names, Stumpp was accused of a catalogue of horrifying crimes. According to the accounts of the time, he was not only a serial killer and cannibal, but a man who could transform into a wolf and stalk the countryside in search of victims. His arrest in 1590 led to a brutal confession under torture and an execution that was meant to serve as a warning to others. Bu...

This week on Grim Curriculum, we return to the case of Anneliese Michel for Part Two. In this episode, we examine the exorcisms she endured, the physical toll they took, and the devastating final chapter of her life. What happened behind closed doors was not a single ritual, but a prolonged series of sanctioned rites carried out while her health continued to deteriorate. We then turn to the courtroom, where her parents and the priests involved were forced to answer for their decisions. The trial raised difficult questions about faith, medical responsibility, and where belief must give way to...

This week's Extra Credit has a little bit of everything. We have some old timey crime stories, a couple of REALLY dumb criminals, a Florida man, a case local to Alberta that we hope is solved soon and of course this week's Strange and Unusual Death will have your jaw on the floor.

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The Exorcism of Anneliese Michel - Part 1

This week on Grim Curriculum, we step into a case that sits at the crossroads of faith, fear, and fatal conviction, the exorcism of Anneliese Michel.

In 1970s West Germany, a young woman’s suffering was interpreted not as illness, but as possession. As her condition worsened, those closest to her became convinced that what they were witnessing was not medical, but demonic. Rituals were performed. Prayers were repeated with increasing desperation. And intervention came not from medical professionals, but from the Church.

What unfolded behind cl...