Unraveling the mystery of mass hysteria in Hysterical. Hosted by Dan Taberski, this seven-part series dives deep into a baffling outbreak of illness among high school girls in LeRoy, New York.

How it all starts: It’s 2011, and a 16-year-old girl posts a video on YouTube. She’s struggling with strange facial tics and movements, which she links to a past incident where she fainted after headbanging at a concert. Her symptoms have escalated, and she’s reaching out for help. She’s not alone.

As her video circulates, more girls from her school come forward, revealing similar symptoms. It’s a bizarre, unsettling situation where classrooms seem to be filled with outbursts and tics, only affecting teenage girls. Is it a psychological phenomenon, a physical ailment, or something more sinister?

What makes the podcast compelling? Its refusal to sensationalize the story. Instead, it offers a nuanced exploration of mass hysteria, comparing historical cases with modern-day mysteries. The podcast navigates through various theories — from environmental toxins to psychological triggers — without falling into the trap of treating its subjects as a spectacle.

WHERE TO LISTEN- You can listen to the podcast on Amazon Music, Apple Podcasts, iHeartPodcasts and Spotify.

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