In this episode, Matt talks about an infamous TV movie – Ghostwatch – that allegedly tricked millions of Britons into believing that the BBC had inadvertently let a malevolent spirit loose on the country. The actual story is both more mundane and more interesting. Plus, Ghostwatch provides a snapshot of public paranormal beliefs of the early 1990s. Come learn about one of the best horror movies Matt has ever seen, and how it reflects paranormal beliefs, and how the movie and its aftermath are remembered.
Tag Archives: ghosthropology
116. The Fresno Nightcrawler
In this episode, Matt talks about a bit of local weirdness: The Fresno Nightcrawler. This strange creature, or spirit, or UFO, or someone’s legs, has been spotted in and near the city of Fresno, where Matt resides. Is it real? Is it a hoax? Is it mentioned in Native Californian legends? Did a bleached-out pair of Levis become sentient? Find out in this episode!
115. The Haunted London Underground
We have all heard of ghost towns, but what about the ghost-facilities that exist within some of the world’s most-populated cities? What happens when a location associated with something as storied as London’s famous Underground is abandoned? What sorts of folklore builds up around it? In this episode, Matt discusses two such examples and what they may tell us about how Londoners view themselves and their city.
114. Deogen
In Belgium, there is a forest… and in that forest, there is a fog… but it is not your normal fog, and this is not your normal bit of folklore.
113. The Body the Barrel (Atherton Mansion)
In this episode, Matt tells the story of a rather standard haunted house. However, the tale of how the ghosts came to be there involves what amounts to sitcom tropes, a barrel of rum, and the specters of iconic eras in San Francisco’s history.
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.
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