Trash Tuesday w/ Esther Povitsky & Khalyla Kuhn

Episode: Shane Madej Finds A Ghost

Recorded: October 28, 2025

Episode Overview: Spooky Vibes, Ghost Skepticism & Tarot Chaos

This “Spooky Edition” of Trash Tuesday welcomes Shane Madej—co-creator of the hit paranormal show Ghost Files—for a delightfully chaotic roundtable about ghosts, belief, and the day’s main event: a no-holds-barred group tarot reading. The hosts, joined by regulars and guest tarot reader Nicole, dive into personal beliefs, family tales, and supernatural skepticism, before breaking out ghost-hunting devices and playing "Smash or Pass: Cryptids Edition". Expect wild stories, emotional honesty, and the classic irreverent humor that defines Trash Tuesday.

Key Discussion Points & Segments

1. Belief, Skepticism, and Ghosts

Timestamps: 02:15 – 07:40

• Shane Madej’s Skepticism
  Shane explains his role as the non-believing half of Ghost Files, highlighting his long-standing skepticism and contrasting it with his co-host’s genuine fear and excitement.

  • Shane: “It is pretty boring for me… it’s a lot of quiet rooms, you know. But meanwhile my co host is like, more than ever. It’s very fascinating how the two of us can go into these places and he comes out being like, that was very scary.” (04:10)
  • He clarifies he’s not a contrarian; he just hasn’t had a ghostly encounter despite years of investigations.

• Religious Upbringings and Fear of the Unknown
  Khalyla and the group share their mixed religious backgrounds—ranging from strict Catholic fear to “LA Christian” ("be kind, love thy neighbor, and don’t park where they’re filming Seventh Heaven").

  • Khalyla: “I am deeply afraid, but also deeply non-believing.” (05:32)
  • Clayton: “Also, like, don’t park there because Seventh Heaven is coming. It was like that kind of vibe.” (03:19)

• Possession Story & Ouija Fun
  Khalyla recounts a friend’s supposed possession during a beach trip, leading to a near finger-biting incident; the crew mock-examines potential supernatural explanations.

  • Clayton: “She didn’t know you, she doesn’t—like, she’s not going to spend her afterlife talking to like, a gay 12 year old and his like ugly girlfriend.” (06:40)

2. Family Tales: Santas, Uncles, and Murder

Timestamps: 09:28 – 11:13

• Santa Trauma
  Shane discusses his childhood Santa sighting (spoiler: it was his uncle, a professional Santa), and Khalyla’s family story veers quickly from staged noises to a dark revelation about a murderous uncle.

  • Khalyla: “He actually hired my uncle to make noises that you hear right now...And then a couple years after that he did murder his own brother.” (10:51)

• Running Family Jokes The group laughs about family members threatening each other's lives (“my two uncles are always threatening to kill each other, like all the time”—Esther, 11:32).

3. Tarot Reading with Nicole: Destiny, Anxiety, and Shadowy Figures

Timestamps: 12:08 – 42:17

• Clayton’s Reading: Housing Moves and the Unsettling Unknown
  Nicole forecasts a generally positive transitional period, though warns of “something unexpected and unsettling”—likely just a typical homeownership issue.

  • Clayton: “Unsettling makes me think that, like, we’re going to find like a body or something.” (15:32)

• Khalyla’s Year Ahead: Prosperity, Family, and a Moral Test
  A “girlboss” autumn, a nurturing winter, and a test of morals in spring are predicted. The biggest challenge is a mental block next summer.

  • Nicole: “Go as hard as you can. Reach for the stars.” (18:58)
  • The reading gets emotional, moving Khalyla to tears.

• Esther’s Career Struggles: Asking for Help and Meeting New People
  Esther’s cards urge her to reach out for support and be open to new people, suggesting her biggest obstacle is her own reluctance to seek help.

  • Nicole: “[It’s] not so much about physical work as much it is about having…connections to emotionally help you.” (25:48)
  • Clayton: “It sounds like it’s you that’s the problem.” (27:42)

• Shane's Cat’s Fate Shane requests a reading for his beloved, terminally ill cat. The cards suggest the cat will live longer than expected, remain happy and loved, but with a need to watch for signs of decline (“when he starts to not be so clever...that’ll be closer to the end of his journey”—Nicole, 37:08).

  • Shane: “Everyday’s a gift with him…he doesn’t seem to be having any ill effects from it so far.” (33:28)

• Tarot Philosophies
  Nicole and Shane share skepticism about the supernatural but agree tarot is a useful tool for introspection—“it just gives people fodder to think about their lives in an interesting way.” (37:33)

  • Quick Takeaways wrap-up for each:
    • Esther: “Allow your life to kind of be and also decide what you want.”
    • Clayton: “Everything’s gonna be fine. Take it in stride when something weird happens.”
    • Khalyla: “Reap what you’ve already sown and appreciate it.”

• Foot Jokes & Health Tangents Esther’s “corpsey feet” become a running joke, leading to a discussion about rabies, rats in Teslas, and diabetic foot care.

  • Clayton: “Those are the feet of a hundred year old person.” (33:33)

4. Ghost-Hunting Gadgets & Pseudoscience

Timestamps: 44:31 – 54:47

• Tools of the Trade
  Shane demos his array of ghost-hunting devices—including a REM pod and an Ovilus (which translates environmental data to random words).

  • Shane: “I would love nothing more than to believe in ghosts... I tend to believe people aren’t lying, but—I don’t know what this is.” (45:08)
  • The Ovilus spits out phrases like “Shepherd,” “Creek Mike Black,” “Sad puddle,” and absurdly, “Maximum Planet”, delighting everyone with their randomness and supposed meaning.

• Belief in Aliens and Cryptids
  The group chats about believing in aliens and cryptids (“Your Bigfoots, those sort of things”), differing over whether aliens feel supernatural or natural.

  • Shane: “Aliens feel to me…like there’s the possibility that this exists because it’s an animal. It’s meat and bubble.” (47:01)

5. Smash or Pass: Cryptids Edition

Timestamps: 55:07 – End

• The gang plays a chaotic, hilarious round of cryptid “Smash or Pass”:
  • Bigfoot: Shane says pass, everyone else says smash.
    • Shane: “Bigfoot, really, stinks… There was, like, a scientist who described the smell as smegma.” (55:46)
    • Clayton: “Bigfoot is a hot, stinky, hairy jungleman.” (57:05)
  • Loch Ness Monster: More cuddling than actual romance—mixed votes.
  • Philippines’ Tikbalang: Khalyla says “super smash for me… cannot pass on my Filipino brethren.” (58:42)
  • Jersey Devil, Mothman: Pass for Jersey; heavy smash for Mothman (“has an incredibly sculpted ass”—Shane, 60:50).

Memorable Quotes & Moments

• Shane: “As a skeptic, I find tarot very fascinating because I think it just gives people kind of fodder to think about their lives in an interesting way. Even if I don’t necessarily believe it’s like supernatural.” (37:33)
• Esther: “It sounds like it’s you that’s the problem.” (27:42)
• Clayton: “If you want to meet new people, you need to get out and meet new people. You need to be out of your home.” (45:00)
• Nicole (on tarot): “Anyone can read Tarot, I think.” (42:41)

Notable Timestamps

• 04:10 – Shane discusses boring ghost hunts and his skeptical stance
• 10:51 – Khalyla dives into her dark family Santa story, murder included
• 13:04–18:59 – Tarot readings begin, building tension and humor
• 25:48 – Esther’s career issues laid bare, advice: ask for help!
• 33:28 – Shane’s emotional story about his sick cat and his love for animals
• 45:08 – Ghost-hunting gadgets make their debut
• 55:07 – Smash or Pass: Cryptids sparks wild opinions and laughs

Tone & Style

True to Trash Tuesday’s spirit, this episode is a fast-paced mix of intimate overshares, dark comedy, self-reflection, and skepticism—alternatively very silly and unexpectedly thought-provoking. The hosts banter freely, embracing oversharing and poking fun at themselves, while Shane’s deadpan, logical perspective bounces neatly off the group’s earnest belief in fun and weirdness.

Summary Takeaway

If you want a snapshot of modern LA hot-girl comedy mixed with ghost-hunting snark, family trauma, and good-natured skepticism, this episode is a must-listen. Between emotional tarot moments (and existential dread), Shane’s ghost-detecting gear, and a thirst-driven cryptid game, this is Trash Tuesday at its wittiest, weirdest, and warmest.