Podcast Episode Summary

Podcast: And That's Why We Drink
Episode: E453 Corporate Birthday Winks and Designated Pony Drivers
Date: October 12, 2025
Hosts: Christine Schiefer, Em Schulz

Overview

This episode kicks off the hosts’ first official October show together, diving into spooky season with a classic blend of ghostly tales and true crime—Irish style! Em brings a haunting story of Dublin's Hellfire Club, while Christine recounts the tragic, unsolved disappearance of Irish child Mary Boyle. In between, the duo share hilarious life anecdotes, parenting adventures, and their trademark banter about everything from birthday cakes to haunted pubs to tie-dye chaos.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Banter, Life Updates & Birthday Talk (Begins ~04:00)

• Christine shares Leona’s 4th birthday highlights, discussing kids’ birthday politics and Leona’s “corporate winks.”
• The hosts riff on childhood embarrassing moments, school memories, and high school fashion.
• Christine describes the “Gabby’s Dollhouse” party, solo movie theater experience, and Leona’s endearing birthday gratitude.
• Em updates listeners on their pet boarding stress and upcoming family reunion in Florida, joking about too much “Linda time” (their mom).

Notable Quotes:

• "She just looked at it and said, 'I think this may be the best one yet.' And we were like, okay!" – Christine, on Leona’s gift opening (14:30)
• "I finally feel like we’re on the same page." – Em (04:59)

Memorable Moment:

• Leona’s new “corporate wink” to thank family for gifts, delighting and amusing everyone (14:10–15:00).

2. Why We Drink Segment & Icebreakers (Begins ~16:00)

• Christine’s reason to drink: celebrating Leona’s birthday (with plenty of D. Peppys) and bracing for hosting a kids’ party.
• Em’s reason: anxiety over boarding their dog and prepping for back-to-back cross-country family trips.

3. Spooky Season & Story Transition (Begins ~23:07)

• Both realize it’s their first October episode together and officially initiate “Halloween mode.”
• Em solicits Halloween-themed ghost story ideas from listeners and laments the challenge of finding fresh content.
• Comic riffing on running out of “witches, jack-o-lantern, Dracula” origin stories.

4. Paranormal Story: The Hellfire Club, Dublin (Begins ~26:04)

Story Summary

• Em delves into Dublin’s notorious Hellfire Club, infamous for rumored occult activity, hedonism, devilish antics, and modern hauntings.
• Origin:
  • The Hellfire Club concept started in England in 1719 by the Duke of Wharton, spreading to Dublin’s Montpelier Hill.
  • The Dublin lodge is built on desecrated Neolithic tombs, adding curses and legends.
  • Early owners: William Conolly (Irish politician), then James Worsdale & Richard Parsons (founders of the Irish chapter).
• Club Reputation:
  • Elitist, anti-Christian, and famed for wild parties, lewd behavior, and mockery of religion—the president dressed as Satan, mascot was a black cat, and “ghost pie” (pigeon pie) was served.
  • Urban legends include deals with the devil, especially around Lord Santry (a known, actual murderer) and other unsavory members.
• Paranormal Lore:
  • Most famous tale: A stranger revealed to be the devil during a card game; frequent tales of a “Dalmatian-sized horned black cat;” banshee-like screams in surrounding woods.
  • Later, fires damaged the property, which many attribute to the wrath of spirits or dark rituals gone wrong.
  • Modern ghost hunters and tourists report burning smells, red-eyed cats, oppressive dread, moving objects, and aggressive entities.
  • Ghost Adventures’ encounter: Aaron’s emotional collapse and claims of being grabbed by “Satan” (73:01).

Notable Quotes:

• "D.P.: The Designated Pony… We’ve got the DP out back." – Em & Christine, riffing on 18th-century carriage-pooling (38:22)
• Em imitating Zach Baggins: "Aaron, you’re talking to demons, not women making us a pie." (72:15)
• "It felt like I was touched by Satan." – Aaron, Ghost Adventures (74:01)

Memorable Moments:

• Hosts’ bit on “designated pony/DP” as the Hellfire Club’s equivalent to a modern DD.
• Live watch-along: Christine and Em react in real time to the infamous Ghost Adventures Hellfire Club episode (75:41).
• Both hosts muse on how much of the Hellfire Club’s legend may be scare-mongering or later embellishment: “For all we know, they were just well-educated social elites into science and just liked to play cards.” (63:58)

5. True Crime Story: The Disappearance of Mary Boyle (Begins ~85:00)

Story Summary

• Christine recounts Ireland’s longest-running missing child case: six-year-old Mary Boyle’s 1977 disappearance in rural Donegal.
• Family Context:
  • Mary and her identical twin Anne, their older brother, and parents were visiting grandparents for a family gathering.
  • After chores and play, Mary reportedly followed her uncle Jerry to a neighboring house, but turned around—uncle claims last seeing her headed home.
• Investigation:
  • Massive search is fruitless; no trace of Mary or her belongings (no remains, not even potato chips she carried).
  • Over time, the likelihood of abduction versus an accident becomes community consensus.
• Suspects & Controversy:
  • Speculation about uncle Jerry’s involvement; a detective believes a “near-confession” was stymied by political intervention.
  • Notable false lead: serial killer Robert Black dismissed as a suspect despite disturbing coincidences.
  • 2013 botched police dig at a reported burial site, furthering family heartbreak and suspicion.
• Family Fallout:
  • Rift between Mary’s mother and twin Anne regarding the coroner’s inquest and investigations.
  • Anne remains a fierce advocate, organizing campaigns for justice and searching for her sister’s remains.
  • The family continues to endure rumors, allegations, and the pain of decades with no closure.
• Takeaway:
  • The case stands as both a national wound and a cautionary tale about investigative failures, local secrets, and the enduring pain of familial loss and suspicion.

Notable Quotes:

• “She believes that Mary was the victim of sexual abuse and that she was murdered because the abuser believed she was going to report him.” – Christine, on Anne’s theory (123:51)
• "All we want is to find where my sister was left, to give her some dignity and lay her to rest with a decent burial." – Anne Boyle, on her quest for answers (124:19)
• “Happy Halloween—life is scary. And that’s why we drink.” – Christine (126:17)

Memorable Moments:

• Detailed recounting of Anne reenacting Mary’s last journey to assess how plausible the uncle’s account was (105:23).
• Emotional memories shared about the psychic impact on surviving twin Anne, her personal grief, and continued campaigns for answers.
• Hosts’ joint frustration over botched police work and investigative red herrings.

6. Closing Banter: Parenting, Type A Life, and Tie-Dye Triumphs (129:21–END)

• Christine describes the chaos of tie-dyeing with her daughter, resulting in “ugly shirts” for mom and color theory lessons from her young daughter.
• The pair muse on how planning (and executing) crafts or household projects is always easier for “type A” personalities.
• Anecdotes on efficient pumpkin carving as adults and washing-face techniques lead to amusing generational and gender rants.

Notable Quotes:

• "Society sucks… I think that’s what it is." – Em, discussing double standards for women (132:38)
• "The mess is in the eye of the pumpkin holder." – Christine (131:10)

Timestamps for Important Segments

| Segment | Timestamp | |---------------------------------------------|--------------| | Banter & Birthday Stories | 04:00–16:00 | | Why We Drink / Icebreakers | 16:00–23:07 | | Paranormal Story: The Hellfire Club | 26:04–81:00 | | - Hellfire Club Background/Lore | 26:04–54:00 | | - Paranormal Reports & Ghost Adventures | 54:00–77:20 | | True Crime: Disappearance of Mary Boyle | ~85:00–124:40| | - Case Background | 85:00–103:00 | | - Investigation/Controversy | 103:00–124:40| | Episode Wrap & Tie-Dye Tales | 129:21–end |

Tone & Language

• Warm, irreverent, and conversational with emotional depth and classic “And That’s Why We Drink” snark.
• Frequent friendly (sometimes self-deprecating) asides generate laughs and a sense of camaraderie.
• Empathy and frankness dominate the true crime segment, while Supernatural sections skew toward playful skepticism and dark comedy.

Best Quotes of the Episode

1. Leona’s Corporate Wink:
   “She’d wink at Tim and then she’d open it and go, ‘Thank you, Tim.’ … What a corporate little lady.” (14:10–14:29) – Christine

2. Ghost Adventures Parody:
   “Aaron, you’re talking to demons, not women. Making us a pie.” (72:15) – Em, channeling Zach Baggins

3. Christine’s Crime Story Gut Punch:
   “All we want is to find where my sister was left, to give her some dignity…” (124:19) – Anne Boyle (as quoted)

4. Why We Drink:
   "Happy Halloween—life is scary. And that's why we drink." (126:17) – Christine

Additional Resources

• Mary Boyle’s Case: facebook.com/justiceformaryboyle

For New Listeners

This episode is a perfect showcase of the hosts’ balance of chilling stories, personal storytelling, and comedy. You’ll get both classic haunted history (Hellfire Club) and a heart-wrenching unsolved true crime (Mary Boyle), woven together with relatable, candid, and deeply entertaining rapport.

And that’s why… you should listen!