All the things that made the world the way it is now. Welcome to the podcast takes your nostalgia, tells you the history behind it and makes you ask What the HELL Were You Thinking. Host Dave Bledsoe takes the history, politics and pop culture of the past fifty years and explains what it was like to live through it and why it is still ruining the world today. So join Dave, his hapless Producer Gavin St James every Monday for time capsule of truth! Find us at whatthehellpodcast.com, @whatthehellpodcast.bsky.social and the show name on Facebook.
What the HELL Were You Thinking?
Claim This Podcastby Dave Bledsoe
4.8(20 reviews)
627 episodes
Updated Daily
Accepts GuestsHas SponsorsLocation 🇺🇸
87
Podcast Authority
BetaExcellentBased on show quality, social media presence, reviews, charts, and more
Quality92
Social90
YouTube72
Engagement85
Podcast Overview
All the things that made the world the way it is now. Welcome to the podcast takes your nostalgia, tells you the history behind it and makes you ask What the HELL Were You Thinking. Host Dave Bledsoe takes the history, politics and pop culture of the past fifty years and explains what it was like to live through it and why it is still ruining the world today. So join Dave, his hapless Producer Gavin St James every Monday for time capsule of truth! Find us at whatthehellpodcast.com, @whatthehellpodcast.bsky.social and the show name on Facebook.
Language
🇺🇲
Publishing Since
4/16/2015
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87
Podcast Authority
BetaExcellentBased on show quality, social media presence, reviews, charts, and more
Quality92
Social90
YouTube72
Engagement85
9
Excellent Areas
1
Good Performance
9
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excellent
Publishing Consistency
Every 6 days
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7.2/10
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needs improvement
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2.0/5
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Recent Episodes
July 20, 2026
Episode 529: Bugliosi's Big Break
Show Notes Episode 529: Bugliosi’s Big Break This week Host Dave Bledsoe found himself needing legal representation when he was served with a lawsuit over something he is certain he did NOT do! (He DID do them, he was just black out drunk at the time.) On the show this week we talk about the wild trial of Manson and the Family and ask if maybe Charlie was innocent? (He definitely wasn’t) Along the way we learn that Dave once imagined he could be a lawyer until he found out how much work it takes. Then we meet Vincent Bugliosi, a hard charging Los Angeles lawyer with a dream to be much more. (A very rich, very famous writer) We examine the spurious connection between the Manson Family and Andy Griffith. We dive into the trial to learn both sides “theory of the case”. (Both revolved around Charlie) Finally, we ask the question no one wants to answer, was Charles Manson wrongfully convicted. (Yes and no.) Our Sponsor this week is Prosecution Solutions, every court trial is a story and a story needs good writers. We open with news coverage of the Manson trial and close with Dave Frishberg who really likes his lawyer. Show Theme: Hypnostate Prelude to Common Sense The Show on Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/whatthehellpodcast.bsky.social The Show on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/whatthehellpodcast/ The Show on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCjxP5ywpZ-O7qu_MFkLXQUQ The Show on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/whatthehellwereyouthinkingpod/ Our Discord Server: https://discord.gg/kHmmrjptrq Our Website: https://www.whatthehellpodcast.com Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/Whatthehellpodcast The Show Line: 347 687 9601 Closing Music: https://youtu.be/0lyhjzn-Qdo?si=JfzLg8SUc5WaPRqv Buy Our Stuff: https://www.seltzerkings.com/shop Citations Needed: Former Milkman’s Complaint Adds to DA Race Confusion https://www.cielodrive.com/archive/former-milkmans-complaint-adds-to-da-race-confusion/ The Charles Manson (Tate-LaBianca Murder) Trial https://famous-trials.com/manson/243-home The Law: Manson's Shattered Defense https://time.com/archive/6838369/the-law-mansons-shattered-defense/ EYE OF THE BEHOLDER: THE WRONGFUL CONVICTION OF CHARLES MILLES MANSON https://www.swlaw.edu/sites/default/files/2017-04/2%20Eye%20of%20the%20Beholder.pdf Manson Murders Showed Dark Side of Hippie Generation https://www.nbclosangeles.com/news/local/manson-murders-showed-dark-side-of-hippie-generation/1858706/ Charles Manson: How the notorious cult leader brought an abrupt end to the 60s https://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-11-20/charles-manson-the-man-who-killed-the-60s/9172088 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
July 6, 2026
Episode 528: Healter Skelter
Show Notes Episode 528: “Healter Skelter!” This week Host Dave Bledsoe was trespassed from a children’s playground (again) for screaming at a four year old “When you get to the bottom, YOU GO BACK TO THE TOP OF THE SLIDE!!!!” (Made her cry, then angry parents made him cry.) On the show this week we get to the gory parts of the story as we cover the actual murders the Manson Family did. Along the way we discover that Dave wasn’t a very good cop. (He almost never violated people’s civil rights!) Then we return to Spahn Ranch where the Manson family was in trouble: drugs cost money in Death Valley. We learn a little about the members of the Family closest to Charlie and about Charlie’s Plan for the coming Race War. (It was a little vague) We follow along as the Family meets famous people and people not famous at all really, then murders them. Finally Dave gets around to explaining why he keeps talking about Dune Buggies. Our Sponsor this week is Death Valley Cave Tours, don’t start the Race War without them. We open the show with ABC news covering the Manson trial and close with the Hen House Prowler and their playground etiquette tips. Show Theme: Hypnostate Prelude to Common Sense The Show on Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/whatthehellpodcast.bsky.social The Show on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/whatthehellpodcast/ The Show on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCjxP5ywpZ-O7qu_MFkLXQUQ The Show on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/whatthehellwereyouthinkingpod/ Our Discord Server: https://discord.gg/kHmmrjptrq Our Website: https://www.whatthehellpodcast.com Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/Whatthehellpodcast The Show Line: 347 687 9601 Closing Music: https://youtu.be/UF9Wulle1lI?si=zFeNt_nU6Y81CJOf Buy Our Stuff: https://www.seltzerkings.com/shop Citations Needed: Wikipedia: Tex Watson https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tex_Watson Wikipedia: Helter Skelter Scenario https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Helter_Skelter_(scenario) Why Did the Manson Family Kill Sharon Tate? Here’s the Story Charles Manson Told the Last Man Who Interviewed Him https://web.archive.org/web/20200924061655/https://time.com/5633973/last-manson-interview/ Charles Manson's Evil Plans Involved A Crazy Dune Buggy Battalion https://www.jalopnik.com/charles-mansons-evil-plans-involved-a-crazy-dune-buggy-485497751/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
June 29, 2026
Special Presentation: The Spirit of 76
Show Note Special Presentation: Spirit of ‘76 This week Host Dave Bledsoe is celebrating 250 years of America by dressing as Uncle Sam and getting piss drunk at a cookout. (It is tradition) On the show this week, we drop in this Special Presentation about the last Big Birthday Blast America put on back in 1976! From Tall Ships to Winnebagos, from fire hydrants to twenty five cents worth of history we explore all the way America celebrated 200 years! Our Sponsor is Numismatics who wants you to check your swear jar before you dump them in Coinstar. We open with ABC coverage of America’s Big Day and close with John Williams and the Boston Pops. Show Theme: Hypnostate Prelude to Common Sense The Show on Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/whatthehellpodcast.bsky.social The Show on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/whatthehellpodcast/ The Show on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCjxP5ywpZ-O7qu_MFkLXQUQ The Show on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/whatthehellwereyouthinkingpod/ Our Discord Server: https://discord.gg/kHmmrjptrq Our Website: https://www.whatthehellpodcast.com Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/Whatthehellpodcast The Show Line: 347 687 9601 Closing Music: https://youtu.be/7t2LGv-iR1Y?si=nHXxCEBfCvxoUBea Buy Our Stuff: https://www.seltzerkings.com/shop Citations Needed: Your Bicentennial Memories Are Here: The Year of an Unusual Public Art Project https://bicentennialmemoryproject.substack.com/p/1976-bicentennial-fire-hydrants Bicentennial Wagon Train https://www.kophistory.org/bicentennial-wagon-train/ MARKETING: Bucks From The Bicentennial https://time.com/archive/6847235/marketing-bucks-from-the-bicentennial/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
627 total episodes available
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Frequently asked questions
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- What is What the HELL Were You Thinking??
- How often does this podcast release new episodes?
This podcast updates daily.
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This podcast is available on 10 platforms including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and more. You can also use the RSS feed directly.
- Does this podcast accept guests?
Yes, this podcast regularly features guests.
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