Mature audiences only, please! 🎃

Meredith and Cassandra dive into 20 of the rarest medical conditions people can suffer from — it’s a tough one, but perfect for Spooky Season!

We also chat about Meredith’s “diet,” the manager with an attitude, the chores we let our husbands handle, and—drumroll please—we’re celebrating being listened to in all 50 states! Huge thank you to Nina for helping us get there!

Oh, and one more thing… who do we know that owns a candle company? We have plans.

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$2/month keeps us recording and bringing you all the laughs! https://the-clopen-effect.captivate.fm/support

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🟢 30 Days to Building Resilience in the Workplace:

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All material, unless otherwise stated, written and performed by The Clopen Effect.

Cassandra, Bestie, and Meredith chat about one of the eeriest topics yet - the worst ways to die in retail. For mature audiences only, please!

It’s spooky season, and while this episode sounds dark, it’s handled with care, respect, and just enough Halloween edge to give you chills (without crossing the line).

From freezers to forklifts, compactors to parking lots, we explore the strange, tragic, and sometimes unbelievable accidents that have happened in and around retail workplaces.

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$2/month keeps us recording and bringing you all the laughs! https://the-clopen-effect.captivate.fm/support

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Check Out Our Other Podcast – Anxiety Makes Me Poop:

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30 Days to Building Resilience in the Workplace:

https://www.udemy.com/.../buildingresilienceatwork.../...

All material, unless otherwise stated, is written and performed by The Clopen Effect.

Here's the rundown of this week's show:

• Thieves go for small, high-value, easy-to-carry stuff.
• Top items:
• Cash
• Laptops, tablets, phones
• Jewelry and watches
• Prescription meds
• Firearms
• They want things they can grab fast and resell easily.
• Average loss? A few thousand dollars per break-in.

• The “greatest hits” list of what walks out of stores:
• Electronics
• Designer clothing and accessories
• Cosmetics
• Alcohol
• Meat and deli items
• Baby formula
• Coffee and razors (because apparently people love stealing those)
• Why these? Small, expensive, and easy to flip online.
• Retailers lost around $45 billion last year from theft alone.

• Most stolen from cars:
• Purses and wallets
• Phones
• Sunglasses
• Tools
• Packages left in plain sight
• Most stolen cars (as of 2025):
• Hyundai and Kia models (still a big target!)
• Older Honda Accords and Civics
• PSA: Hide your stuff. Even loose change in the cup holder gets attention.

• Rare but Real: Grave robbing is uncommon today but still occurs, often driven by the illicit trade in human remains and artifacts.

• Financial Gain: Stolen items include jewelry, clothing, and personal effects, which can be sold on the black market.
• Cultural Exploitation: Some individuals seek artifacts or remains for personal collections or spiritual practices.
• Medical Use: Historically, bodies were stolen for medical research; while less common now, incidents still happen.

• Federal and State Laws: Grave robbing is illegal under various laws, including the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), which mandates the return of Indigenous remains and cultural items to their communities.
• Museum Repatriations: Institutions like the American Museum of Natural History have returned thousands of human remains that were previously acquired without consent.

• Cultural Impact: The practice raises significant ethical and cultural concerns, particularly among Indigenous communities and descendants of enslaved peoples.
• Media Coverage: Incidents of grave robbing often lead to public outcry and increased awareness of the need for stronger protections.

All The Clopen Links: https://linktr.ee/theclopeneffect

$2/month keeps us recording and bringing you all the laughs! https://the-clopen-effect.captivate.fm/support

Buy Our Cool Merch:

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💩 Check Out Our Other Podcast – Anxiety Makes Me Poop:

Available wherever you listen! (https://linktr.ee/anxietymakesmepoop)

🟢 30 Days to Building Resilience in the Workplace:

https://www.udemy.com/course/buildingresilienceatwork_in30days/?referralCode=BD92C36502C5E19AA273

All material, unless otherwise stated, is written and performed by The Clopen Effect.

Hey friends! Before we share this week's episode, a quick note:

Every week, The Clopen Effect is full of jokes, absurd retail stories, and general chaos. You know, our usual nonsense.

Today, since it’s spooky season, we’re taking a small detour. We’re covering two very serious events: the disappearances of Adam Walsh from a Sears in 1981 and Ann Gotlib from Bashford Manor Mall in 1983. Not all the details are provided here, so please conduct your own online research if you'd like to learn more about these cases.

These cases are tragic, heartbreaking, and real. We’ll share some key facts, provide some history, and reflect on the impact, while also sprinkling in our usual commentary here and there.

Please know it’s all meant to contextualize, not make light of what happened!

With that being said, and if you’re ready… take a breath, maybe hug your kids or pets, and let’s get into these true retail horrors.

All The Clopen Links: https://linktr.ee/theclopeneffect

$2/ 2/month keeps us recording and bringing you all the laughs! https://the-clopen-effect.captivate.fm/support

Buy Our Cool Merch:

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💩 Check Out Our Other Podcast – Anxiety Makes Me Poop:

Available wherever you listen! (https://linktr.ee/anxietymakesmepoop)

🟢 30 Days to Building Resilience in the Workplace:

https://www.udemy.com/course/buildingresilienceatwork_in30days/?referralCode=BD92C36502C5E19AA273

All material, unless otherwise stated, is written and performed by The Clopen Effect.

We had a great time with the Rockstar of Retail - our friend Tim! We were listening to the Cubbies win, so the recording fades in and out a bit, but oh well (they won!). In this episode, we chat about Tim’s bands and run through the top scary movie quotes. Stick around until the end to hear a song titled Deviant!

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$2/month keeps us recording and bringing you all the laughs! https://the-clopen-effect.captivate.fm/support

Buy Our Cool Merch:

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💩 Check Out Our Other Podcast – Anxiety Makes Me Poop:

Available wherever you listen! (https://linktr.ee/anxietymakesmepoop)

🟢 30 Days to Building Resilience in the Workplace:

https://www.udemy.com/course/buildingresilienceatwork_in30days/?referralCode=BD92C36502C5E19AA273

All material, unless otherwise stated, written and performed by The Clopen Effect.

We kick things off with a hilarious story from our co-worker who carried 100 balloons for 1.5 miles from the store to an office party (yes, people stared). Then it’s all about GERMS — the gross, sneaky, everyday kind that hide where you least expect them. Fun, funny, and a little bit ewww - this episode has it all!

All The Clopen Links: https://linktr.ee/theclopeneffect

$2/month keeps us recording and bringing you all the laughs! https://the-clopen-effect.captivate.fm/support

Buy Our Cool Merch:

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💩 Check Out Our Other Podcast – Anxiety Makes Me Poop:

Available wherever you listen! (https://linktr.ee/anxietymakesmepoop)

🟢 30 Days to Building Resilience in the Workplace:

https://www.udemy.com/course/buildingresilienceatwork_in30days/?referralCode=BD92C36502C5E19AA273

All material, unless otherwise stated, written and performed by The Clopen Effect.

From hot dogs at Coney Island to lamingtons in Australia, competitive eating contests are one of the strangest - and most fascinating - traditions around the world. Today, we’re talking about the wild history, the training secrets, and even the dangers of this stomach-stretching sport.

All The Clopen Links: https://linktr.ee/theclopeneffect

$2/month keeps us recording and bringing you all the laughs! https://the-clopen-effect.captivate.fm/support

Buy Our Cool Merch:

https://www.zazzle.com/the_clopen_effect_t_shirt-256038010043042814

💩 Check Out Our Other Podcast – Anxiety Makes Me Poop:

Available wherever you listen! (https://linktr.ee/anxietymakesmepoop)

🟢 30 Days to Building Resilience in the Workplace:

https://www.udemy.com/course/buildingresilienceatwork_in30days/?referralCode=BD92C36502C5E19AA273

All material, unless otherwise stated, written and performed by The Clopen Effect.

Wowee, we do love to laugh at ourselves! This episode is no different! We talk about road trips and rest stops, snacks and car ride games. Thanks for being here! We are really having a great time with all of you!

All The Clopen Links: https://linktr.ee/theclopeneffect

$2/month keeps us recording and bringing you all the laughs! https://the-clopen-effect.captivate.fm/support

Buy Our Cool Merch:

https://www.zazzle.com/the_clopen_effect_t_shirt-256038010043042814

💩 Check Out Our Other Podcast – Anxiety Makes Me Poop:

Available wherever you listen! (https://linktr.ee/anxietymakesmepoop)

🟢 30 Days to Building Resilience in the Workplace:

https://www.udemy.com/course/buildingresilienceatwork_in30days/?referralCode=BD92C36502C5E19AA273

All material, unless otherwise stated, written and performed by The Clopen Effect.