59. The Bandage Man of Cannon Beach

The Cannon Beach and Seaside areas of Oregon’s coast are home to an unusual spirit – the Bandage Man. Part ghost, part mummy, part reanimated corpse, this creature is the central character of a local urban legend and serves as something of a local mascot. Join Matt for a discussion of this weirdly delightful story.

58. Gnomes and Ghosts

No, Matt is not going to turn this into a podcast on gnomes and other fairy folk…but there are more connections between fairies, gnomes, and ghosts than one might think. In this episode, Matt talks about a scary gnome that might be a demon, as well as a man who died and came back as a ghost that appears to resemble a gnome or brownie.

57. Mission La Purisima Concepcion, California

The ghost stories about the La Purisima Mission, what they include and what they surprisingly don’t, tell us a lot about how Californians think about their state’s past.

55. The Shanghai Tunnels, Portland, Oregon

In this episode: how commerce, tall tales, and xenophobia collide with notions of innocence and victimization to create the folklore of Portland’s Haunted Shanghai Tunnels.

54. Rispin Mansion

Perched on a tree-covered riverbank in the coastal town of Capitola, California there is a once-glorious mansion. Built by Henry Rispin, this “haunted house” has been abandoned for decades and now lurks in the shade just outside of easy view. In this episode, Matt discusses the history of the mansion, the ghosts who are said to haunt it, and its role in Santa Cruz County folklore.

53. Themes of the Podcast Part 2 (Ghost Stories and History)

Matt discusses how ghost stories both enhance and warp our understanding of the past. The relationship between historic understanding and the paranormal is complex and fascinating, and Matt tries to give a bit of insight.

52. Zozo: The Ouija Board Demon

Using an Ouija board may put you in contact with all manner of spirits and other entities. You may gain occult knowledge, you may learn entertaining facts, or you may have your life destroyed and your soul endangered by an encounter with a demon known as Zozo. Assuming, of course, that Zozo is real.

51. Doubt and Paranormal Investigation (With Dr. Michelle Hanks)

Dr. Michele Hanks, an anthropologist who does ethnographic work with paranormal investigation groups, joins Matt to discuss the role of doubt in paranormal investigation.

50. Unlikely Gateways to Hell (US)

In this episode, Matt wraps up the last Ghosthropology episode of 2022 by telling the audience how they can go to Hell, if they feel so inclined. We’re talking gateways to damnation, and they are in the unlikeliest of places. This episode is a bit light on analysis, but heavy on fun. However, remember, most of these locations are either unsafe or on private land, so feel free to talk about them, but don’t try to visit.