Podcast Summary

And That's Why We Drink, Episode 455: Halloween Boy Math and Jerry Springer Ghosts

Hosts: Christine Schiefer & Em Schulz
Release Date: October 26, 2025

Overview:

This special Halloween episode is the ultimate blend of silly and spooky. Christine and Em dive headfirst into seasonal chaos, discuss Halloween costumes gone wrong ("boy math" style), banter about classic horror icons (and unexpected Grinch confessions!), before telling a chillingly dark ghost story (“The Haunting on Barrel Road”) and a shocking true crime case (“The Murder of Sheila von Wiesmack”). The mood jumps from laugh-out-loud awkwardness to deeply eerie—exactly the “wine and milkshakes” And That's Why We Drink vibe.

1. Halloween Vibes, Costume Fails & "Boy Math"

(04:26–21:20)

• Technical Difficulties Galore: Christine struggles to create a spooky video background, knocking over books, debating the best Halloween colors (purple, green, red), and envies Em’s “haunted manor” decor.

• Boy Math & Costume Catastrophe:

  • Em recounts a saga: ordering a Frankenstein costume through Instacart, only for a male shopper to deliver a “Stallion” XXL used condom wrapper costume instead. The punchline? It’s (literally) a gold condom wrapper that says "For the 1% of men, 8 inches or larger."
    • ”Who made this? Who said this should be an option at Spirit Halloween?” – Em (13:29)
  • Hilarity ensues as Em tries on the atrocious costume, Christine has to describe it for listeners, and they riff on “boy math” logic.
    • “I’ve never seen anything quite so mind-numbingly stupid as a replacement for… a monster costume.” – Christine (15:40)
    • “If you feel like your costume is stupid this year, nothing’s as dumb as this.” – Em (20:01)
  • Ideas spiral into making pun costumes like “KY Jelly” or “Spermicidal Lube.”

• Why They Drink:

  • Em: Costume fail proves “why we drink.”
  • Christine: Is forced into being "Grumpy Toad" for Halloween by her daughter’s Pete the Cat theme. This segues into Christine’s undying love of “The Grinch.”

2. Christine’s Grinch Obsession

(22:00–32:15)

• Christine admits a deep, almost secret love of the classic animated "Grinch" as her ultimate comfort/holiday movie, a fact even her family and podcast partner seem surprised by.

  • "Maybe that's me with the Grinch—nobody's ever asked. All the time!" – Christine (28:24)

• Em confesses a preference for the Jim Carrey version, but both reminisce about “Grinch Toes” and favorite Christmas traditions.

• The “Grinch as Roman Empire” analogy: Christine likens how often she thinks about The Grinch to that viral internet question about men and the Roman Empire.

• Christine describes how reading the Grinch to her daughter tied into her own journey with opening up, healing, and OCD-friendly rhyming patterns.

• Notable Quotes:

  • "You should come out about it, Christine. I'm very proud of you." – Em (27:27)
  • "This is why I drink: because I've decided to be more vocal about my love for the Grinch." – Christine (32:33)

3. Spooky Story: “The Haunting on Barrel Road”

(39:17–89:20)

Story Begins: [41:00]

Background:

• Setting: Alexandria, Virginia, 1981.
• Main Characters: Gary & Esperanza (“Epi”), married couple; Bruce, friend/roommate.

Early Hauntings:

• Immediately after moving in:
  • Residents become inexplicably clumsy, break lots of dishes, and have trouble sleeping.
  • Epi, who identifies with Cuban culture, wonders if an “oricha” (unevolved spirit) is feeding on her vulnerability.
• Bruce, skeptic friend, doesn’t believe in ghosts—even after a neighbor reveals a previous resident, Mary, died by suicide in the home's basement, right before Halloween.

Escalation:

• Activity Heightens: Unexplained rotting flesh odor and smoke emit from the kitchen drain; sounds from the basement increase; Epi experiences terrifying nightmares.

• Epy’s Nightmare:

  • She sees a woman, who says:
    “Hi, Epi. You may think your life is perfect, but when you’re at work, I’m here with your husband.” (53:26)
  • Sleep paralysis, blackness, and a lunge at the apparition which turns out to be a dream (Gary awakens her mid-attack).

• Physical Manifestations:

  • Dishes/cups shatter, footsteps pound, car inexplicably moves in the driveway (57:05), tensions spike among roommates.
  • Epi investigates and learns Mary’s troubled history (including marital issues and a younger “replacement wife”)—prompting empathy and a “leave us alone if you stop breaking things” truce.

Turning Point:

• Hauntings Soften: After Epi’s acceptance, the ghostly activity becomes less frightening, almost playful.
  • “She’s like, actually, I just wanted to be your friend the whole time.” – Christine (61:22)
• Parapsychologist Dr. McLennan comes to study the home, sees nothing; Epi and Gary surmise “Mary” just doesn’t like being observed.

Menacing Finale:

• Hauntings return with new intensity:
  • Epi is pushed down the stairs; doors rip open during vulnerable moments; intense, animal-like noises erupt; Epi writes a will.
• Tragedy Strikes:
  • After a night out, a sudden, engulfing fire starts in the kitchen (73:01); Epi and Gary perish (Joe and Evans, new roommates, escape).
  • Fire began directly above the original site of Mary’s suicide.
  • Headlines read: “Ghost suspected as cause of fire that killed two people.”
  • “This makes this case...one of the few times that something paranormal is suspected as a cause of death.” – Em (76:24)
• Historical Footnote:
  • Previous owner was an MK Ultra test subject, adding a possible “cursed property” backstory.
• Memorable Moment: Em recounts waking up as a child with a premonition, staring at a light fixture moments before it caught fire (78:21).

4. True Crime: The Murder of Sheila von Wiesmack

(93:19–136:10) Story Begins: [95:19]

Case Summary:

• Victim: Sheila von Wiesmack, 62, wealthy American socialite.
• Location: Luxurious resort in Bali, Indonesia, August 2014.
• Crime Scene:
  • Taxi driver finds a duct-taped, blood-soaked suitcase abandoned outside resort—inside: Sheila’s brutally beaten body.

Investigation:

• Missing Persons Twist: Sheila’s 18-year-old daughter Heather Mack also missing; last seen together during a heated argument in the hotel lobby involving Heather’s boyfriend, Tommy Schaefer, who had “surprised” them in Bali (with mom's money).
• Resort CCTV:
  • Catch Heather and Tommy repeatedly moving between rooms, then hauling away the white-sheet wrapped suitcase, scaling the hotel wall, and fleeing.
• Heather and Tommy Arrested:
  • Found at a motel, paid with Sheila’s credit card, using their real names (113:04).

Confessions & Motive:

• Both concoct initial story about being kidnapped by a gang; swiftly disproven.
• Claim: Self-defense after argument over pregnancy.
• Reality (uncovered via Facebook/Text messages):
  • Premeditated murder, motivated by access to inheritance.
  • “How about we drown her? … She doesn’t want to go to the beach. … Let’s just do it here.” (122:06–123:00)
  • Tommy even texts photo of the intended murder weapon, a glass and metal bowl.

Aftermath:

• Trial (in Indonesia!):
  • Tommy: 18 years for murder.
  • Heather: 10 years for aiding (received leniency to avoid separating her from her daughter).
  • Their newborn daughter Stella is raised by foster parents; Heather eventually renounces her inheritance in Stella’s favor.
• Heather later extradited to US, tried and sentenced to 26 more years (2024); Tommy still serves Indonesian sentence, will face US charges next.
• Heather’s aunt:
  • "I just didn't lose my sister and best friend. I really lost my niece, too. It's another heartbreak I'll have to live with for the rest of my life." (135:18)

5. Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “If you feel like your costume is stupid this year, nothing’s as dumb as this.” – Em (20:01)
• “Maybe that's me with the Grinch—nobody's ever asked. All the time!” – Christine (28:24)
• "Hi, Epi. You may think your life is perfect, but when you’re at work, I’m here with your husband.” – Ghost in Epi’s dream (53:26)
• “Ghost suspected as cause of fire that killed two people.” – Cited news headline (76:03)
• "I just didn't lose my sister and best friend. I really lost my niece, too. It's another heartbreak I'll have to live with for the rest of my life." – Sheila's sister Debbie (135:18)

6. Timestamps for Key Segments

• Halloween costume fail/boy math: 08:21–21:21
• Grinch confessions: 22:43–32:15
• Spooky Barrel Road haunting: 41:00–89:20
• True crime: Sheila von Wiesmack: 95:19–136:10

7. Tone & Final Vibes

The episode swings wildly between hilarious and harrowing—the classic And That’s Why We Drink experience. Halloween confusion, accidental condom costumes, talk of “boy math,” confessions about childhood movies, deeply unnerving supernatural stories, and a tragic true crime. The hosts’ trademark empathy (and occasional absurdity) keep the heavy content approachable, crowned by their reminder: “And that’s why we drink.”

If you want more, stick around for the Patreon after-show, where the duo gets even more sentimental and weird!