This episode deviates slightly from the stories of ghosts and demons featured in most episodes to discuss one of the internet’s earliest conspiracy theories. This story contains travel to alternate Earths, encounters with paranormal phenomena, mysticism and chaos magic, shadowy government agents bent on stripping humanity of freedom, and lots of drugs and sex. It can also teach us a lot about how paranormal folklore develops and spreads online. Also, it explains how a pulp science fiction writer popular with the hippies is connected to Reaganomics and Q-Anon. So, listen and learn about Ong’s Hat and the Incunabula.
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(If you would like a transcript, please click here.)
This episode featured music by Matthew Armstrong and production assistance from Kaylia Metcalfe.
Sources
The Fiction of Ongs Hat: To Good to be False
Anonymous, N.D. Ong’s Hat, Gateway to the Dimensions! Available online, access 9/16/25 at https://jacobsm.com/deoxy/deoxy.org/inc2.htm, also accessed 9/16/25 at https://incunabula.org/ongs-hatgateway-to-the-dimensions-a-full-color-brochure-for-the-institute-of-chaos-studies-and-the-moorish-science-ashram-in-ongs-hat-new-jersey/
Cranston, Emory (likely pseudonym). 1993. Incunabula: A catalogue of Rare Books, Manuscripts & Curiosa Conspiracy Theory, Frontier Science & Alternative Worlds. Available online, accessed 9/16/25 at https://incunabula.org/incunabula-a-catalog-of-rare-books-manuscripts-curiosa-conspiracy-theory-frontier-science-alternative-worlds/
Kinsella, Michael. 2011. Legend Tripping Online: Supernatural Folklore and the Search for Ong’s Hat. University Press of Mississippi, Jackson, MS.
Matheny, Joseph. 2021. Ong’s Hat the Beginning (2021 edition). Access online 9/20/12 at https://ia601800.us.archive.org/3/items/ongs-hat-the-beginnning-2021/Ongs-Hat-The-Beginnning-2021.pdf
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