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.

89. Ghosts of the Playa Vista Project

The Playa Vista or Bellona Wetlands area is said to be haunted. Despite the location containing a well-known and widely reported Native American cemetery, the ghosts are actually somewhat unexpected and weirdly delightful. In this episode, Matt talks about ghosts, real estate development, archaeology, and Howard Hughes.

88. Three Haunted California Theaters

It seems that every theater that hosts live performances is home to at least one ghost story. But what about movie theaters? What about old movie theaters that became live performance venues? What can the ghosts that haunt these places tell us about how we connect our present with the past? In this episode, Matt talks about three theaters in his home state that are said to be haunted by a variety of ghosts.

87. Ghosts of Mount Holyoke College (Part 2)

In the episode, Matt continues his talk with Dr. Michele Hanks and Dr. Liberty Stanavage about the ghost stories associated with Dr. Hank’s alma mater, Mount Holyoke Colege. Ghost stories, campus rituals, and goofy comments ensue.