Tales from throughout the southwestern United States and Northern Mexico tell of a stranger who appears at a dancehall, dancing well, but leaving fear in his wake. Is it all just tall tales? Is it exaggerations of a rakish man’s exploits? Or is the Devil actively looking for dance partners? Matt is again joined by James Tyner, whose family members were present for events in Fresno that seem to match the folklore of the Devil at the Dancehall.
Category Archives: GhostPod
21. Devil At The Dancehall
Tales from throughout the southwestern United States and Northern Mexico tell of a stranger who appears at a dancehall, dancing well, but leaving fear in his wake. Is it all just tall tales? Is it exaggerations of a rakish man’s exploits? Or is the Devil actively looking for dance partners? Matt is again joined by James Tyner, whose family members were present for events in Fresno that seem to match the folklore of the Devil at the Dancehall.
20. The Less Than Impressive
There are ghost stories that will keep you up at night in fright. There are ghost stories that make you question your most basic assumptions about the world around you. There are ghost stories that you can’t shake, no matter how far in the past they were told to you. This episode isn’t about those stories. This episode is about the ghost stories that never get invited to any ghost story parties and go somewhere to sulk. The stories in the episode aren’t good, but they are fun.
19. The Woman In White At White Rock Lake
The ghost of White Rock Lake is said to take on many forms ranging from the merely unnerving to the outright terrifying. If you are traveling near Dallas, it may be worth looking at the location….but if you see a woman in white, don’t let her get too close. Also, Matt is in fine -overthinking- form on this one.
18. Himuro Mansion
It is said that on the outskirts of Tokyo there is a haunted mansion that is cursed due to the terrifying occult rituals once practiced there. Made famous in the video game Fatal Frame, you cannot find the house on a map, but there are those who claim to have traveled to it and regret having done so. Poet and video game enthusiast, James Tyner, joins Matt to discuss this story.
17. Jacob Cooley’s Conjure Chest
A cruel slave owner beats a man to death due to displeasure over a piece of carpentry. This sets the stage for a series of misfortunes for the slave owner’s descendants and the legend of a cursed object. This story is steeped in American folklore traditions and cannot help but be soaked in the racial politics that continue to influence Americans to this day.
16. The Dark Watchers
For at least a century, possibly longer, people have claimed that the Santa Lucia Mountains of California’s central coast have been home to strange humanoid entities, garbed in black, who keep a silent watch, seeming to care little about the humans who witness them. Their nature and purpose is unknown, but they have appeared in both local legends and works of literature. In this episode, we look into the Dark Watchers.
15. Ghosts of California’s Chinese Labor Force
In this episode, Matt explores the relationship between ghost stories and historic injustice as it relates to the experience of Chinese migrants to 19th century California. The episode involves a weird book in a Death Valley Cabin, bloody rainstorms, and a bunch of smart-aleck pre-teens, all trying to come to terms with history.
14. Mary King’s Close
Matt discusses a famous hidden road that is part historic educational facility, part tourist trap, and part spooky story generator. In this episode, you will learn about the intersection of plague horrors, ghost stories, urban renovation… and also how ghost stories and public perceptions of history intertwine.
13. Gef The Talking Mongoose
This episode’s story is a bit of an oddity. It’s not quite a ghost story…but also not quite something else. The entity – commonly known as Gef the Talking Mongoose is said to have claimed to be a variety of things, ranging from an extra-clever mongoose from India to a spirit to…something else strange, but not completely defined. Matt and, special guest, Dave talk about Gef, what he probably was, and why it matters… or does it?
