The Other Side of Midnight with Lionel

Lionel and callers engage in a sprawling discussion about death, dying, and near-death experiences (NDEs). The host expresses a personal fascination with death and a strong aversion to traditional cemeteries and funerals. Several callers contribute with intensely personal stories, including one man who suffered a near-fatal internal injury from a Murphy bed accident and another who recounted a potentially fatal, life-altering shooting during a hunting trip and his subsequent period of agonizing pain and suicidal thoughts. The conversation also touches on themes of randomness versus intervention in survival and the unique trauma experienced by subway and train operators following incidents of suicide on the tracks, concluding with a crucial public service announcement for the 988 National Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this hour, Lionel takes calls from listeners on various unconventional and philosophical topics. The first portion of the discussion in this hour focuses on fears and social anxieties, specifically the fear of highly attractive women, referred to as Venustraphobia, which leads to an exchange about dating, rejection, and pickup lines. The conversation then shifts to a more serious subject as multiple callers share intense near-death experiences, including drowning and a severe injury, and discuss the psychological effects of confronting one's own mortality.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this hour of "The Other Side of Midnight", Lionel discusses the psychology and importance of fear with callers and guests. This segment explores the concept of fear as a necessary survival instinct, differentiating between normal anxiety and hyper-realized phobias, and touches on neurology versus psychiatry regarding emotional responses. The host and callers discuss specific fears, like galeophobia (fear of sharks) intensified by the movie Jaws, and the evolutionary roots of other common phobias. The conversation also briefly includes tangential topics, such as cryptids like Bigfoot and crop circles, and the host's reaction to a caller who attempts to steer the subject toward political commentary about Trump. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Lionel dedicates a significant portion of this hour to breaking down the technical legal reasons for the dismissal of indictments against figures like Jim Comey, arguing that the procedural missteps—specifically regarding the unauthorized appointment and overextended authority of an interim US attorney—were "sloppy business." Additionally, the program touches on a discussion of paranormal and psychological themes, including the universality of cryptid sightings like Bigfoot across different cultures and the origins of common human fears and gestures. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Lionel, the voice for "night owls," dives deep into the enduring mysteries of Unidentified Flying Objects (UFOs), extraterrestrial life, and government secrecy. This episode spans history, tracking sightings from ancient records in Rome and Mesopotamia to the 1947 Kenneth Arnold event and the famous Roswell crash. Lionel and his callers tackle modern unexplained phenomena, including suspicious drone sightings over European and U.S. airports, geoengineering (chemtrails), and alleged government cover-ups of recovered alien technology. Listeners share personal encounters, ranging from massive saucer-like UFOs to Sasquatch/Bigfoot sightings. Plus, we explore political speculation concerning a potential Trump administration disclosure of non-human technology and the lesser-known, serious threat of a US aid "stay-behind organization". Join the conversation where intellectual curiosity inspires "awe," and we remind you that what people see is not "all made up". Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Lionel discusses how various nations—including Russia, India, and China—handle the UFO question, noting that many treat the subject with more seriousness or open record-keeping than the U.S. government. A significant portion of the broadcast features first-time callers sharing their personal alleged encounters, which range from seeing strange aerial lights and orbs to spotting what they believed was a Bigfoot or Sasquatch, prompting discussions on credibility, lack of photographic evidence, and the host's fascination with these mysteries. The show concludes with the host relating a historical anecdote concerning Jackie Gleason and President Richard Nixon allegedly viewing alien bodies. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Lionel begins a discussion that focuses on the enduring mystery of Unidentified Flying Objects (UFOs) and the notion of superior extraterrestrial life. The discussion covers a historical timeline of sightings, referencing ancient records from Mesopotamia and Rome, and modern events like the 1947 Kenneth Arnold sighting that coined the term "flying saucer," and the famous Roswell crash. Callers contribute personal accounts and theories, including connections between UFOs and the mathematical precision of the Egyptian pyramids, and highly classified government cover-ups of recovered alien technology, particularly in the years following 1947. Lionel encourages listeners to maintain an open mind about evidence and the possibility of levels of perception beyond human capability, suggesting that what people see is not "all made up." Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Lionel and callers discuss unexplained phenomena, particularly drone and unidentified flying object (UFO) sightings. Lionel introduces the topic by discussing reports of drones over European airports and draws parallels to similar, unexplained sightings in the New York and New Jersey areas, expressing suspicion over the lack of official follow-up and suggesting surveillance or psychological conditioning may be at play. Callers contribute personal testimonies, including one man, who recounts seeing a massive, saucer-like UFO in 1971 that he believed followed him home. The discussion also expands into related conspiracy theories, such as geoengineering (chemtrails) and alleged government cover-ups regarding 9/11 toxins and the Barney and Betty Hill abduction case. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Lionel discusses the mysteries of UFOs/extraterrestrial life, speculating on the possibility of a Trump administration disclosure of non-human technology and challenging the institutional resistance to this topic. Lionel also touches upon the JFK assassination and briefly mentions a lesser-known story about a US aid "stay-behind organization" allegedly positioned to subvert the current government, which he considers an even greater threat than UFOs. Throughout the broadcast, Lionel encourages listeners, whom he affectionately refers to as night owls, to engage with subjects that inspire "awe" and intellectual curiosity. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It's "Ventilation Friday" on The Other Side of Midnight with Lionel! Skipping the usual news, Lionel, the self-proclaimed "Lion of the English language," delivers a high-energy session of rapid-fire takes and convivial telephonic intercourse. Dive into serious questions alongside modern frustrations, including retail antics, co-workers who vanish, the absurd need for Wi-Fi passwords, and the epidemic of phone scams. This show is packed with deep nostalgia, exploring bygone communication like party lines, rotary phones, and the legendary tricks used to cheat old payphone systems. Listen for critiques of exhausted news cycles, passionate debates on pronunciation pet peeves, and wild listener stories covering everything from legendary, diabolical pranks to the mysterious origins of the word kayfabe. The primary rule is having fun, embracing the fascinating and peculiar. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Lionel delivers a high-energy show where the primary rule is having fun. Broadcasting on the Red Apple Podcast Network, The Other Side of Midnight avoids "obligatory stuff" and instead embraces the fascinating and the peculiar, offering an acquired taste in conversation. Lionel guides discussions on everything from the virtues of old-school phone courtesy and nostalgic reflections on classic comedy albums (praising Richard Pryor, Robert Klein, and Bill Cosby) to critiques of modern stand-up. You’ll hear hilarious listener calls covering profound acts of kindness, like praying for customer service representatives, and detailed accounts of legendary, diabolical pranks—including the continuous black fax paper tube and the 'Just Keep Driving' cassette tape setup. Tune in for versatility, candid caller interviews (sometimes about rehab and vertigo), and unpredictable humor. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It's "Ventilation Friday," where host Lionel (the "Lion of the English language") encourages guests to "let it go, letting it ruminate, letting letting letting the the the subject matter just extravate ooze". This episode dives into deep nostalgia, exploring bygone communication like candlestick phones, party lines, and three-digit phone numbers with a letter (e.g., 128J). Hear incredible stories of cheating the old payphone system for limitless calls and reminisce about phone books and joke lines. A major "gripe is pronunciation", as Lionel—a self-professed logophile—and callers debate anglicizing words like "Tijuana" and "cotton". Finally, the show features a passionate "expatiation" on the changing face of Broadway, lamenting the loss of in-person auditions, celebrating legends like Jan Maxwell and mourning the decline of elegance in theater. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Join Lionel for "Ventilation Friday" on The Other Side of Midnight. Skipping the usual news, this entertaining and informative hour focuses on convivial telephonic intercourse and listener confabulation. We dive into wild stories, from explicating the notion of the devil to AM radio hosts talking to the dead. Callers reminisce about the days of phone operators, cheating the phone company, battling long-distance carriers, and pulling outrageous pranks, including the legendary "Help!" call to the public library. Plus, hear shocking tales of radio legends, $70 landlines with copper wire, and the mysterious origins of the word kayfabe. It's a trip down memory lane, where we discover exactly "what the heck is going on here". Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It is Ventilation Friday on The Other Side of Midnight with Lionel! Prepare for an entertaining and informative session of rapid-fire takes, bouncing from topic to topic. Lionel ventilates on serious questions (Is imitating Barry White racist?) and modern frustrations, including co-workers who vanish, the epidemic of phone and email scams, and the absurd need for Wi-Fi passwords in public places. He critiques modern retail antics and customer service styles. Lionel demands we stop talking about certain exhausted news cycles, like Epstein, and rants about pronunciation pet peeves. Plus, listen in for deeply personal stories about overcoming a debilitating stutter, the challenges of being paralyzed by words, and calls covering the history of the show and the disappearing New York accent. Finally, Lionel dives into vintage tech nostalgia, covering everything from party lines and rotary phones to person-to-person calls and pre-coordinated international calls from the 1950s. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This episode of The Other Side of Midnight with Lionel promises "the other side of truth and the other side of reality," moving past the "surface level stuff" and "drive by nothing" found in mainstream media. Lionel dives deep into the complex Epstein files, arguing the case was primarily about extortion and blackmail, not merely sex tortion [i]. He presents forensic evidence—including a fractured hyoid bone and thyroid cartilage—indicating Epstein was killed/murdered, not a suicide. The show uses this case as a "tutorial" to dissect crucial issues surrounding sexual predation, victim skepticism, and the difficult pursuit of justice, covering constitutional concepts like due process and challenging why society fails to prioritize the victim [i]. Plus, Lionel lifts the "Norman Rockwell filter" on the American diet, exposing the "witches' brew" of chemical cocktails, known carcinogens like nitrosamines, and hormone disruptors hiding in favorites like bacon and turkey. Discover why quick-fix health fads are distractions, why smoothies might sabotage your health, and why diet connects to modern disease and socioeconomic factors. Prepare to question everything you thought you knew about justice, health, and what constitutes a victim . Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Lionel delves into a sprawling array of subjects, from personal ailments (the agony of a cracked lip) to unusual religious traditions including snake handling in West Virginia, the cargo cults of Papua New Guinea, and the forgotten practice of sin eaters. The discussion moves rapidly to critical health and nutrition debates, questioning the efficacy of diets like Carnivore/Keto, emphasizing the dangers of frying, criticizing the lack of nutritional education in medicine, and highlighting concerns about GMOs and dairy casein. Lionel connects diet to modern disease and socioeconomic factors while fielding calls on the atomic history of Einstein and Szilard and the philosophical implications of fast food's "guaranteed happiness". Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Other Side of Midnight with Lionel dives deep into the "witches' brew" hiding in the American diet, lifting the "Norman Rockwell filter" on beloved foods. We expose the chemical cocktails in favorites like bacon and turkey, including known carcinogens like nitrosamines, hormone disruptors, antibiotics leading to "slow immune sabotage," and the sodium bomb. Lionel also tackles pervasive health myths: is the Mediterranean diet really the cure-all, or was it post-war starvation rations?. Discover why smoothies might sabotage your health, what the food industry hides under the phrase "natural flavor," and why quick-fix fads like methylene blue distract us from the poisons we ingest daily. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This episode of "The Other Side of Midnight with Lionel" is an informative exploration of sexual predation, the challenges faced by victims, and the societal response to high-profile cases like Epstein. Lionel uses the Epstein story as a "tutorial" to dissect the deep-seated skepticism toward victims, particularly the notion of "asking for it" or failing to satisfy "societal muster". The conversation, featuring callers like Lynn and Dee, addresses the debilitating shock and fear experienced by victims, the devastating long-term effects of trauma, including low self-esteem and self-hatred, and the fear of confronting powerful perpetrators. The discussion also tackles the complex legal landscape, covering issues such as the difficulty victims face when seeking justice through litigation—often being accused of being "after the almighty buck" despite seeking validation—and constitutional concepts like due process, even for figures like Harvey Weinstein. Lionel stresses the critical need for parents to "inoculate" their children immediately against online and real-world predators, teaching them to speak up despite threats and manipulation. Ultimately, the show aims to shed light on how predators operate (often lacking a "judgment center" and favoring intimidation over seduction), and asks why society fails to prioritize the victim in these complicated matters. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This entertaining and informative show promises "the other side of truth and the other side of reality," moving beyond the "surface level stuff" and "drive by nothing" found on mainstream cable news. Lionel dives deep into the complex Epstein files, urging listeners to stop accepting easy answers and engage in critical thinking. He challenges the notion that the case was merely about sex tortion, arguing that Epstein's operation was primarily designed for extortion and blackmail. Furthermore, Lionel presents forensic evidence indicating that Epstein was killed/murdered—not a suicide—due to injuries like a fractured hyoid bone and thyroid cartilage. The episode focuses heavily on the nuanced issue of sexual predation and consent, specifically appealing to women—who "really know most about this"—for their perspective, claiming that men, who are often "dunderheaded blatoons," frequently miss the core issues by focusing only on embarrassing high-profile figures. Prepare to question everything you thought you knew, including the official narrative surrounding the case handling and the definition of a victim. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Go behind the headlines with Lionel as he tackles the truths most people ignore. It's Warrior Wednesday with Lynn Shaw. This week, we dismantle the educational bureaucracy, analyzing President Trump’s executive order to return power and funding to the states. Then, confront the digital battlefield: Hear the alarming truth about unregulated AI and chatbots—dubbed "child abuse machines"—that are coaching children toward self-harm and isolation. The discussion pivots to the spiritual realm, exploring the intersection of science and faith, including the research behind the "God gene," the neurological signature of transcendence, and chilling, real-life accounts of exorcisms and haunted properties. Expect sharp opinions, fascinating caller input, and Lionel's chaotic humor on everything from arguing about abortion at 3 AM to his perpetual coffee machine woes. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices