In this episode, Matt concludes his discussion of Ludwig Lavatar’s 16th-century book on Protestant Demonology, Of Ghostes and Spirites Walking by Night. In this part, we learn that ghosts are actually demons, that Medieval and late Roman sorcerers got up to some freaky stuff, and that Bulgaria was once ruled by a werewolf. We also find that Lavatar has a rather upsetting yet mundane explanation as to why God allows evil spirits to torment people.
Tag Archives: folklore
96. “Of Ghostes and Spirites, Walking by Night” Part 1
In this, the first of two episodes, Matt discusses the first part of Of Ghostes and Spirites, Walking by Night, a book in which a 16th-century theologian tried to explain why, in a world that he believed to be ruled by a Christian God, people saw ghosts. This book provides fascinating insights into Renaissance folklore, beliefs about the afterlife, and theology. And there’s a lot of smack talk.
S006. Field Trip To Fresno State
In this episode, Matt takes a field trip to California State University, Fresno to talk about the spooky stories associated with the campus, including haunted music rehearsal spaces, a demon stalking the dormitories, and the spirit of a respected journalism professor. Along the way, he is nearly run down by scooters and encounters horses walking through campus. He also tries to persuade a ghost to open a door for him, which goes about as well as you would expect.
95. Sleep Paralysis
In this episode, Matt discusses sleep paralysis, one of the most common and controversial topics in discussions of ghost folklore. Matt will talk about the folklore surrounding sleep paralysis, the origins of the modern study of the phenomenon, and how a folklorist appears to have spurred the medical community to take the matter seriously.
94. Pinedale, California
The Pinedale neighborhood of Fresno, California was once the location of a facility used to stage Japanese-Americans on their way to the WWII-era internment camps. In this episode, Matt talks about how history can be stored but also warped in ghost stories and how some aspects of our past hold lessons for the present. Also, there’s an old Spanish lady who throws sand in people’s eyes.
93. Ghosts of Penn State (With Sharon Hill)
Sharon A Hill returns to discuss the ghosts at Penn State and the rise of ghost hunters associated with this prestigious university. (Her previous episode was ep 85: The Stone Tape Theory.) Enjoy!
92. Built on an “Indian Burial Ground”
We have all heard it – some locations are haunted because they were “built on an Indian burial ground.” What is the truth to such claims? What does it really mean when someone invokes this type of claim? In this episode, Matt does a deep dive into the question of Native American cemeteries and the hauntings said to happen there.
91. Revenants and the Ghost That Wasn’t There (Interview with Dr Amy Amendt-Radueg)
Matt talks with Dr. Amendt-Radueg about remnants, old stories, and the history of ghosts from vague shades to actual things that go bump in the night.
S005: How Ghosthropology is Made (Supplemental)
While we are on hiatus, we hope you enjoy this quick supplemental episode that gives you a peek behind the microphone at how the episodes are made. Look for more regular episodes in March.
90. The Well To Hell
Many years ago, Soviet scientists drilled the deepest borehole ever dug by humans. They were looking for geological information, but instead, they encountered the very fires of Hell itself. In this episode, Matt discusses an urban legend with ties to both Evangelical Christianity and late 1980s right-wing politics.
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