Podcast
The Gen X Couple
Hosted by Robin and Chris Ruehrwein · EN
Listening to this podcast won’t fix all your problems, but it’s a good start. Join Robin and Chris as they delve into relatable topics such as parenting, marriage, food, travel and life in general. There is something for everyone here, so grab a snack and come along for the adventure!
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New episode every Thursday.
29episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
Fog, Rocks, and Ghosts: New England’s Haunted Lights
1w ago00:26:52Tap to summarizeNew England’s coastline is famous for its rugged beauty and treacherous waters, but it also hides centuries of dark maritime history. In this episode, Chris and Robin explore the haunted lighthouses of Maine, Connecticut, and Massachusetts, from Seguin Island’s eerie piano-playing ghost to Boston Light, the oldest U.S. lighthouse, where drowned keepers are said to still wander. Along the way, they uncover tales of shipwreck spirits, phantom footsteps, and shadowy figures seen by caretakers and visitors alike.Join them as they visit Seguin Island, Boon Island, New London Ledge, Wood Island, Highland Light, Owl’s Head, Penfield Reef, Nubble Light, Boston Light, and Minot’s Ledge, sharing the rich history, maritime tragedies, and chilling paranormal legends of each lighthouse. Whether it’s unexplained music drifting over the rocks, figures in old keeper uniforms, or ghostly cries on foggy nights, this episode is a journey through some of New England’s most haunted and atmospheric coastal landmarks.Love this episode? Subscribe to our podcast and leave a review (please)! Follow us on Instagram and Twitter @thegenxcouple for more. Don’t forget to share this episode with friends or family who might also like it.Checkout Robin’s books: https://linktr.ee/authorrobinstephanie
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Before Memes: The Strange True Story of Kilroy Was Here
2w ago00:11:54Tap to summarizeDuring World War II, a strange message began appearing wherever Allied troops landed. “Kilroy was here.”From sealed ship compartments to newly captured enemy bunkers, the phrase seemed to show up everywhere, sometimes before soldiers even arrived.In this episode, Robin and Chris explore the likely origin of Kilroy, the Massachusetts shipyard inspector often credited with starting it all, how the doodle spread across Europe and the Pacific, and why it became one of the most iconic pieces of wartime folklore.Was Kilroy a real man, a shared joke, psychological warfare, or the world’s first viral meme?Join us as we uncover the story behind the legend and why, decades later, Kilroy still feels strangely present.Love this episode? Subscribe to our podcast and leave a review (please)! Follow us on Instagram and Twitter @thegenxcouple for more. Don’t forget to share this episode with friends or family who might also like it. Checkout Robin’s books: https://www.amazon.com/author/robinstephanie
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Tiny Performer, Huge Fame: The Story of General Tom Thumb
3w ago00:19:01Tap to summarizeStep into the fascinating world of General Tom Thumb, the tiny entertainer who became one of the first global celebrities in the 19th century. Born Charles Sherwood Stratton in Connecticut, he stopped growing as a baby and grew up to be just over three feet tall. Under the guidance of showman P. T. Barnum, he became a master performer, touring the United States and Europe, entertaining royalty, and captivating audiences with singing, dancing, and impersonations.In this episode, Robin and Chris explore his incredible life, including his historic marriage to fellow performer Lavinia Warren, their international tours, and the spectacle surrounding the famous “Fairy Wedding.” From the stages of New York to the courts of Queen Victoria, Tom Thumb’s story is a blend of showmanship, charm, and genuine talent, showing how a little man can leave a huge mark on Love this episode? Subscribe to our podcast and leave a review (please)! Follow us on Instagram and Twitter @thegenxcouple for more. Don’t forget to share this episode with friends or family who might also like it.Checkout Robin’s books: https://linktr.ee/authorrobinstephanie
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From Jaws to Hocus Pocus: Massachusetts Movie Magic
4w ago00:29:55Tap to summarizeMassachusetts has played a starring role in some of Hollywood’s most iconic films. In this episode, Robin and Chris explore movies filmed across the state, from the gritty streets of Boston in The Departed and The Town to the spooky charm of Salem in Hocus Pocus. They dive into behind-the-scenes trivia, discuss how real locations enhanced each story, and share personal observations that make these films feel even more connected to Massachusetts.Whether you are a Boston local or a movie fan from afar, this episode highlights how the state’s cities, coastlines, and historic towns have become more than just backdrops. Robin and Chris guide listeners through the iconic settings of Black Mass, Good Will Hunting, Jaws, Shutter Island, and Patriots Day, uncovering the unique magic and realism that Massachusetts brings to the big screen.Love this episode? Subscribe to our podcast and leave a review (please)! Follow us on Instagram and Twitter @thegenxcouple for more. Don’t forget to share this episode with friends or family who might also like it.Checkout Robin’s books: https://linktr.ee/authorrobinstephanie
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Walled Alive: The Deadly Duel That Haunted Poe
Apr 900:15:34Tap to summarizeIn this episode, we explore a chilling chapter of Edgar Allan Poe’s life and imagination. Long before he became a master of the macabre, Poe spent time at Fort Independence on Castle Island in Boston Harbor. There, he encountered the story of a deadly duel between two officers, Robert Massie and Gustavus Drane, and the dark legend that Drane was supposedly walled alive in a fort chamber as revenge.We examine the historical duel, the fort itself, the local lore that surrounded it, and how these real-life elements may have inspired Poe’s famous story, The Cask of Amontillado. We also dive into the atmosphere of Boston Harbor in the early 19th century, Castle Island’s foggy walls, echoing corridors, and the chilling tales told by soldiers — all of which shaped the young Poe’s imagination and contributed to his enduring fascination with revenge, confinement, and psychological terror.Love this episode? Subscribe to our podcast and leave a review (please)! Follow us on Instagram and Twitter @thegenxcouple for more. Don’t forget to share this episode with friends or family who might also like it. Checkout Robin’s books: https://www.amazon.com/author/robinstephanie
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Pirates, Privateers, and Smuggling along the Massachusetts Coast
Apr 200:12:49Tap to summarizeSet sail with Robin and Chris along the Massachusetts coastline, from Boston Harbor to Cape Cod and beyond. Discover the daring exploits of pirates like Black Sam Bellamy, Revolutionary War privateers, and Prohibition-era rum runners. Explore hidden coves, mysterious islands, shipwrecks, and legendary treasure rumored to remain along the coast. Ghost stories, eyewitness accounts, and recovered artifacts bring centuries of maritime adventure to life in this immersive episode.If you love pirates, lost treasure, and New England history, this episode is your ultimate deep dive into the audacity and mystery of Massachusetts’ coastLove this episode? Subscribe to our podcast and leave a review (please)! Follow us on Instagram and Twitter @thegenxcouple for more. Don’t forget to share this episode with friends or family who might also like it. Checkout Robin’s books: https://www.amazon.com/author/robinstephanie
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Boston Common: Ghosts, Graves, and Underground Secrets
Mar 2600:16:57Tap to summarizeJoin Robin and Chris as they explore the layered history of Boston Common, America’s oldest public park. From its beginnings as colonial pastureland to a Revolutionary War militia ground, burial site, and location of public executions, the Common has been at the center of Boston life for nearly 400 years.In this episode, we uncover stories of human remains discovered during the construction of the Tremont Street Subway, explore the tunnels beneath the park, and share ghostly sightings reported near the Frog Pond, Parkman Bandstand, and Central Burying Ground. We also dive into folklore surrounding British redcoat apparitions, ghostly children, and unexplained noises that persist to this day.Whether you are interested in history, urban legends, or the unexplained, this episode offers an immersive journey through the secrets buried under Boston Common and the stories that have shaped its mystique.Love this episode? Subscribe to our podcast and leave a review (please)! Follow us on Instagram and Twitter @thegenxcouple for more. Don’t forget to share this episode with friends or family who might also like it. Checkout Robin’s books: https://www.amazon.com/author/robinstephanie
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Historical Heists and Swindles of New England
Mar 1900:19:17Tap to summarizeFrom audacious museum thefts in Boston to colonial land scams, daring bank robberies, and Confederate raids, New England’s history is full of clever, bold, and sometimes shocking crimes. In this episode, Robin and Chris explore the stories behind the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum heist, the Plymouth Mail Truck robbery, the Brink’s North End heist, the St. Albans Confederate raid, colonial counterfeit schemes, and more. We dive deep into the planning, execution, and aftermath of each crime, highlighting the human ingenuity, ambition, and audacity that made these historical heists unforgettable. Discover the criminals, the victims, the towns, and the ways these events shaped local law, culture, and memory.Love this episode? Subscribe to our podcast and leave a review (please)! Follow us on Instagram and Twitter @thegenxcouple for more. Don’t forget to share this episode with friends or family who might also like it. Checkout Robin’s books: https://www.amazon.com/author/robinstephanie
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Pukwudgies: Tricksters of the Bridgewater Triangle
Mar 1200:13:51Tap to summarizeToday we explore the Bridgewater Triangle and its elusive residents, the Pukwudgies. These small humanoid tricksters from Algonquian folklore have been reported in Freetown State Forest for decades.Robin and Chris share detailed eyewitness accounts, including Bill Russo from Raynham, Massachusetts, who encountered a three-foot tall gray figure with glowing eyes in the late 1990s. From rocks mysteriously stacked, glowing eyes, and strange sounds to playful mischief and objects moved without explanation, Pukwudgies are clever, mischievous, and unforgettable.Join us as we wander the trails, stone walls, ponds, and swamps of Freetown State Forest and uncover the stories behind these fascinating creatures.Love this episode? Subscribe to our podcast and leave a review (please)! Follow us on Instagram and Twitter @thegenxcouple for more. Don’t forget to share this episode with friends or family who might also like it. Checkout Robin’s books: https://www.amazon.com/author/robinstephanie
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Disney World’s Abandoned and Hidden Spaces
Mar 500:24:49Tap to summarizeWalt Disney World is famous for its magic, castles, and rides, but what about the places that are not on the map? In this episode, Robin and Chris take you behind the scenes to explore Disney World’s hidden, forgotten, and abandoned spaces. From the eerie calm of Discovery Island to the rusting slides of River Country, the unbuilt hotels, and the Cinderella Castle Suite you will never see, we dive into the history, stories, and secrets that make Disney World more fascinating than most guests realize.We explore:The utilidor tunnels beneath Magic Kingdom that keep the park running seamlesslyThe Wonders of Life Pavilion at EPCOT and why it closed, yet still standsThe Skyway gondolas, an aerial ride that vanished in 1999EPCOT’s unfinished future, with infrastructure for pavilions that never arrivedHotels that were planned but never built and why the land still mattersThe Cinderella Castle Suite, designed for Walt Disney but now only for contest winnersSubtle hidden details like forced perspective, and backstage secretsWhether you are a die-hard Disney fan, a theme park historian, or just love quirky behind-the-scenes stories, this episode is packed with facts, history, and fascinating context you will not find on the regular park tour.Love this episode? Subscribe to our podcast and leave a review (please)! Follow us on Instagram and Twitter @thegenxcouple for more. Don’t forget to share this episode with friends or family who might also like it. Checkout Robin’s books: https://www.amazon.com/author/robinstephanie
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