In this episode, Matt partakes in the old, but rarely practiced, tradition of telling a ghost story for the Christmas episode. The Kit Bag by Algernon Blackwood was originally published in 1908. Listen as the secretary to one of London’s best criminal defense attorneys has a difficult time packing for a Christmas vacation.
Tag Archives: ghost
103. Sidetracked – Ong’s Hat, Incunabula, and Online Legend Trips
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.
102. The National Hotel (Jackson, CA)
In this episode, Matt describes a visit that he made to a haunted hotel. He didn’t have time to prep, so this episode’s field audio is not as smooth as a normal episode, but you will hopefully enjoy hearing Matt talk about a haunted hotel while actively staying in the same hotel.
101. The Cock Lane Ghost
The Cock Lane haunting is one of the best known British ghost stories and one of the best known British hoaxes. In this episode, Matt discusses the events that took place at 20 Cock Lane in the 1760s, how they related to the religious, political, and social currents of the time, and how we might think about them today.
100. Hearing From The Listeners
In this very special 100th episode, your friendly neighborhood Ghosthropologist sits down with his Good Lady Wife for some listener submitted stories and some Q&A. Hear about the creepy bathroom, a smelly ghost, and a shadowy figure on the highway… Enjoy!
99. The (Screaming) Bettiscombe Skull
The story of the Screaming Skull of Bettiscombe Manor is one of the better-known British ghost stories and is part of a larger motif in British supernatural folklore. The Bettiscombe Manor story involves slavery, ignoring the wishes of the dead, and the price paid for these transgressions. There is less reality to the story than even a skeptic might think, but quite a lot is going on in the folklore. In this episode, Matt talks about why, if you find a human skull in your house, you might just want to leave it be.
98. Weird Fresno (Interview With Mike Banti)
In this episode, Matt chats with Mike Banti, author of the popular Weird Fresno blog. They discuss how paranormal investigators help people, the importance of folklore, and the charm of Fresno’s own Nightcrawler. Enjoy!
97. “Of Ghostes and Spirites, Walking by Night” Part 2
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.
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.
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