142 | Hollywood's Fringe: The World of Ed Wood
The Odd Podcast with Joe Parisi
Step beyond the bright lights of classic Hollywood and into the forgotten world of Ed Wood's Fringe Hollywood. Long before Ed Wood became a cult icon and the subject of Tim Burton's acclaimed film, he was hustling to make movies on the margins of the film industry - renting bare-bones soundstages, scraping together casts of unforgettable characters, and creating films that somehow outlived many of the Hollywood classics of their era. In this episode, Joe sits down with Ed Wood historian Bob Blackburn, whose decades of research and personal friendship with Kathy...
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141 | Everybody's Free (To Wear Sunscreen)
The Odd Podcast with Joe Parisi
What if the most memorable graduation speech of all time was never actually a graduation speech? On this episode of The Odd Podcast with Joe Parisi, we take a deep dive into "Everybody's Free (To Wear Sunscreen)," the 1999 spoken-word hit that offered life advice to an entire generation. From its origins as a newspaper column falsely attributed to Kurt Vonnegut, to its transformation into an international chart-topping song by filmmaker Baz Luhrmann, this unlikely cultural phenomenon has a fascinating story behind it. We'll explore how the viral hoax began in the early days of the internet,...
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140 | McDonald's Memories
The Odd Podcast with Joe Parisi
Step into a supersized dose of nostalgia on this episode of The Odd Podcast with Joe Parisi! Joe dives deep into the wild, colorful world of McDonald’s nostalgia, Ronald McDonald history, and some of the most sought-after McDonald’s collectibles ever made. First, Joe talks with Randy Kalin, a performer and magician who spent more than 30 years working as Ronald McDonald, sharing incredible behind-the-scenes stories about what it was like to bring one of the most recognizable characters in pop culture to life. From live appearances to the magic of the Golden Arches, Randy offers a rare...
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139 | MTV Rewind with FlexasaurusRex
The Odd Podcast with Joe Parisi
MTV Changed Pop Culture Forever...Let’s Rewind 📺 This episode of The Odd Podcast dives deep into the wild, colorful, and culture-shifting history of MTV. From the moment “Video Killed the Radio Star” launched the network in 1981, MTV didn’t just play music videos, it reshaped music, fashion, celebrity culture, and an entire generation. In this episode, I take you on a nostalgic journey through the rise, peak, and evolution of MTV. We talk about: • The early days and explosive rise of MTV • Iconic music videos that defined the 80s, 90s, and early 2000s • The shows that changed...
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138 | Heather O'Rourke
The Odd Podcast with Joe Parisi
Heather O’Rourke is forever etched into horror history as Carol Anne Freeling, the wide-eyed little girl who delivered one of the most iconic lines in movie history: “They’re here.” Cast in Poltergeist (1982) at just five years old, Heather instantly became one of the most recognizable child actors of the 1980s and a defining face of supernatural cinema. Before and after Poltergeist, Heather appeared in national television commercials and guest-starred on popular shows like Happy Days and Webster. She went on to reprise her role as Carol Anne in Poltergeist II and Poltergeist III,...
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137 | 90s Chart Toppers
The Odd Podcast with Joe Parisi
In this episode, Joe Parisi explores the #1 songs of the 1990s as ranked by the Billboard Hot 100. From chart‑toppers that shattered records to songs that launched major careers, and even a few that completely disappeared from the cultural conversation. This is a deep dive into what the charts were really telling us. The Billboard Hot 100 isn’t just about hits. It’s a snapshot of a moment in time. Each #1 song reflects a week, a season, or even a specific memory for millions of people. So put on your Starter jacket, pump up your shoes, and join Joe for a fun, nostalgic look back at the...
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136 | Penny from Pee Wee's Playhouse
The Odd Podcast with Joe Parisi
Get ready for an irresistibly nostalgic deep dive into one of the most delightfully quirky parts of Pee-wee’s Playhouse: the iconic claymation “Penny” segments! In this episode, we explore how these whimsical shorts were created, uncover who “Penny” really was, and connect the dots to a surprising web of pop-culture oddities that all tie back to her. I’m joined by two incredible guests: Prudence Fenton, the visionary animation director and producer behind Pee-wee’s Playhouse, and Timothy Young, the artist and model maker who literally built Penny during Season 1. Together, they...
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135 | Johnny Carson with author Mark Malkoff
The Odd Podcast with Joe Parisi
Author and Podcaster Mark Malkoff joins Joe for an in-depth discussion about Johnny Carson's fascinating life and career. Mark recently released the book "Love Johnny Carson: One Obsessive Fan's Journey to Find the Genuis Behind the Legend". If you love hearing stories from Hollywood's Golden Age, and exclusive stories from behind the curtain of The Tonight Show, this episode is right up your alley. Enjoy our 135th episode...Here's Johnny! Follow Joe @joeparisivo More about Mark - markmalkoff.com
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134 | 2Pac with author Jeff Pearlman
The Odd Podcast with Joe Parisi
Diving in to the legend of 2Pac with 9x New York Times Best Selling Author Jeff Pearlman. In October 2025, Jeff released his latest book "Only God Can Judge Me: The Many Lives of Tupac Shakur". Follow Joe @joeparisivo Follow Jeff @jeff_pearlman
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133 | Elsa Lanchester-Monsters, Mysteries, and Myths featuring Scott Michaels
The Odd Podcast with Joe Parisi
In this spine-tingling episode, Joe Parisi explores the legacy of Elsa Lanchester, the unforgettable actress who brought The Bride of Frankenstein to life. But the story doesn’t end on screen. Recently, true-crime and Hollywood historian Scott Michaels (Dearly Departed Tours/Findadeath) uncovered the mysterious truth about the whereabouts of Lanchester’s remains. Hear how decades of rumor, misinformation, and Hollywood lore finally led to a surprising discovery. Joe also dives into the life and tragic death of Colin Clive, the brilliant but tormented actor who portrayed Dr....
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A deep dive into the 1996 film Swingers. Joe Parisi is joined by Deena Martin Delucia, who played Christy (The Vegas Waitress).