The Shallow End

Would you say "yes" after a fake armed robbery? One Colombian man staged a terrifying mock carjacking complete with motorcycles, masked accomplices, and a gun—only to drop to one knee and propose marriage. Then, Jethro and Lindsay dive into the bizarre true story of a South Carolina pastor who landed in jail after church services became so loud that neighbors, police, and city officials finally had enough. From questionable proposal strategies to a legal battle over excessive worship, this episode explores two real stories that prove truth is often stranger than fiction. Plus: Dirty Cabbage, porta-potty investigations, and the kind of life choices that could only happen in The Shallow End. Fake robbery proposal, church noise complaints, unusual crimes, strange news, weird true stories, bizarre weddings, South Carolina history, and the wonderfully absurd corners of human behavior—all waiting for you in this episode of The Shallow End with Schnebly & Toth. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Two grown men attempt to answer life’s biggest questions:How far should you go to retrieve your car keys from a porta-potty?How many beers does it take before 911 becomes Coors Light customer service?And exactly where should you not squat in the English countryside? In this hilariously disastrous episode of The Shallow End, JG and Lindsay dive headfirst into a collection of true stories involving terrible decisions, public humiliation, emergency responders, stinging nettles, and one unforgettable porta-potty rescue that became instant American folklore. From a Pennsylvania man trapped inside a portable toilet while attempting to recover his keys… to an Idaho bar patron who called 911 twelve times over a $30 beer tab… to a listener story involving painful botanical consequences in the Lake District of England — this episode celebrates the universal human ability to look directly at a bad idea and say, “Yeah… I can still make this work.” Expect ridiculous true news stories, dark observational humor, bizarre real-life mishaps, drunken logic, and the kind of cautionary tales that make you feel dramatically better about your own life choices. If you enjoy absurd comedy podcasts, embarrassing true stories, weird news, awkward survival tales, and conversations that sound like two lifelong friends trying to outdo each other with increasingly terrible decisions, this episode belongs in your ears immediately. Topics include: porta-potty rescue stories, drunk 911 calls, bizarre news, embarrassing accidents, stinging nettles, terrible decision-making, true comedy stories, weird America, bar disasters, and listener confessions. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode of The Shallow End, Jethro and Lindsay dive headfirst into one of the strangest crimes in Texas history: the infamous 1927 Santa Claus Bank Robbery. A gun-toting Kris Kringle storms a bank in Cisco, Texas, sparks a downtown shootout, kidnaps two young girls in a stolen Model T, and launches one of the wildest manhunts the Lone Star State has ever seen. It’s Christmas chaos, Texas vigilante justice, and a Santa that absolutely should not be coming down your chimney. Then the guys pivot from outlaw Santas to modern-day lottery insanity with the unbelievable true story of a Kentucky man who won $167 million in the Powerball… and somehow still managed to get arrested repeatedly almost immediately afterward. Along the way: traumatized mall Santas, bee facts, red honey mysteries, bad life choices, and why sudden wealth apparently does not cure criminal behavior. If you love bizarre true stories, dark comedy, historical weirdness, unbelievable crimes, and conversations that spiral gloriously out of control, welcome back to The Shallow End. #TrueCrime #TexasHistory #SantaClausBankRobbery #LotteryWinner #WeirdHistory #ComedyPodcast #TheShallowEnd #BizarreNews #Powerball #HistoricalCrime Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this classic episode of The Shallow End, we dive headfirst into one of the most absurd workplace disaster stories imaginable: the tale of a janitor inside a world-class research facility whose unbelievably bad decisions spiraled into total chaos. It’s a hilarious real-life reminder that sometimes the biggest threat to science isn’t a supervillain… It’s a guy with a mop and absolutely no common sense. Join us for bizarre true stories, catastrophic mistakes, workplace fails, and the kind of unbelievable human behavior that makes you question how civilization functions at all. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What happens when humans push things just a little too far… and nature pushes back harder? In this wildly unpredictable episode of The Shallow End, we kick things off with a surreal, full-circle moment—meeting legendary singer-songwriter James Taylor and reflecting on unexpected life connections that somehow all collide at once. But then… things take a sharp turn. First up: a suburban Massachusetts eviction that spirals into absolute chaos when a beekeeper shows up with crates labeled “LIVE BEES”—and opens them. Thousands of bees. Deputies swarmed. Hospital visits. Courtroom drama. And one very big legal question: can bees be considered a weapon? Then, Kat drops in with a story that proves instant karma isn’t just a concept—it’s sometimes… deeply physical. A world-famous Spanish matador faces the unthinkable when a bullfight goes off script, delivering a brutal reminder that in a battle between man and beast, the outcome isn’t always guaranteed. And yes… it involves a horn. And yes… It’s exactly where you think. It’s a perfect storm of bizarre news, dark humor, and the kind of real-life absurdity that only The Shallow End can deliver. Make good choices… your life might depend on it. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices