In this episode of Some Topic – The Podcast, the hosts venture into one of America's strangest unsolved mysteries: the infamous Mad Gasser of Mattoon. Set against the backdrop of World War II, the story begins in the quiet town of Mattoon, Illinois, where residents reported a bizarre series of nighttime attacks involving mysterious sweet-smelling gas, temporary paralysis, and shadowy figures lurking outside bedroom windows. What started as a handful of unsettling incidents quickly escalated into a full-blown community panic that would leave investigators baffled for decades.

As Brett unpacks the historical timeline of the events, Nick dives into the mindset of a nation already living under the stress of war. With blackouts, shortages, rumors of enemy saboteurs, and constant uncertainty hanging over the coun ...