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Documentary · Audible | Pineapple Street Studios

Hysterical

by Audible | Pineapple Street Studios

Named 2025 Ambies© Podcast of the Year, Hysterical investigates a mysterious illness that spreads among a group of high school girls in upstate New York. What is causing their sudden, often violent symptoms? Is there something in the water or inside the school? Or is it “all in their head?” The series examines the outbreak in LeRoy, NY, believed by some to be the most severe case of mass hysteria since the Salem Witch Trials. In his search for answers, Dan Taberski (9/12, Missing Richard Simmons, Running from Cops) explores other seemingly inexplicable events of the last few years – CIA officers being crippled with nausea and vertigo; cops OD'ing from exposure to fentanyl – and discovers they’re far more connected than we realize. From Wondery and Pineapple Street Studios, this 7-part series forces us to grapple with the mysteries of our own minds, and reckon with a contagion that we thought was long dead, but may be the defining disorder of our time. Audible subscribers can listen to all episodes of Hysterical ad-free right now. Join Audible today by downloading the Audible app.

Latest episodes

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What to Listen to Next - MrBallen's Medical Mysteries

On Hysterical, you heard how the mind has the power to cause physical symptoms in the body, opening the door to terrifying possibilities. But what happens when the body r

Aug 27 2024
32 min

Outbreak | 1

In the fall of 2011, a high school girl in LeRoy, New York falls ill: spasms, outbursts, and uncontrollably violent movements. As the mysterious illness spreads throughou

Jul 1 2024
28 min

Introducing: Hysterical

Hysterical investigates a mysterious illness that spreads among a group of high school girls in upstate New York. What is causing their sudden, often violent symptoms? Is

Jun 26 2024
2 min

Chart trend

Position in the Documentary chart (US), last 90 days.

#1
all-time peak
32
days in the top 3 since Nov 2024

Chart positions

Where Hysterical ranks today in each Apple Podcasts chart (US, Oct 23, 2026).

#97 ▼ 2 Documentary US

What listeners say

A curated, balanced selection of Apple Podcasts reviews.

I lost my dad to fentanyl (Med Examiner certified, you won’t see any magical touch or cloud breathing claims from me, LOL) in 2022 and have never had peace about his death, worrying he suffered. Wholly unexpectedly, your podcast has given me the peace I’ve been missing since his addiction won. Thank you for debunking and sharing such an insightful and interesting podcast. And thank you for helping to close a chapter of my grief.

taybay79 · Jun 2026

The story is so captivating and fascinating! The narrator was wonderful, I enjoyed every episode and how thoroughly they explained everything.

omgomgaa · Apr 2026

Dan is a good storyteller and I appreciate how he looks at multiple sides of the problem. He avoids black and white thinking while also giving useful information. Very thought-provoking.

Witherow · Aug 2025

Congratulations on another fine podcast, Dan. And congratulations on your retirement. Happy for you but sad for us. Your reporting is always thorough, nonjudgmental, and a source of important knowledge. Pseudo-diagnoses are misunderstood and patients are mostly treated poorly. I hope listeners understand now just how complex these conditions are.

Dismissed zebra · May 2025

This was entertaining at first but ended up really frustrating, tangential, and the reporter clearly wanted to find a specific answer, rather than relying on the evidence. He never connected topics he spent entire episodes on (toxic chemicals near the school), disregarded the fact that he interviewed people whose symptoms started before they even knew this was happening in their town, he dismissed the dangers of fentanyl, and disregarded what blood tests showed…all so he could end with a conclusion that all of this was more likely a case of mass hysteria. Don’t waste your time (and ours) spreading misinformation and exploring topics you’re not going to tie together if you’re ultimately going to be just another male dismissing women’s health concerns.

RBreezyBee · Aug 2024

There is an extensively researched and documented 60 minutes episode on Havana Syndrome with evidence that Russia is behind these attacks. Interviews with victims of these attacks show they have permanent debilitating damage. Havana syndrome is NOT psychological. Incorrect info.

notafanofnicotine · Aug 2024

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