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.
Tag Archives: history
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!
All Boys Aren’t Blue (Book Review and Author Interview)
Back from another unplanned hiatus… this week, I bring you a review and author interview.
What you are about to hear is an interview that I did with Chris Jarvis as part of our It’s A Queer Thang podcast when we interviewed George M Johnson, author of All Boys Aren’t Blue, which is an amazing memoir and has the delightful distinction of being one of the most challenged and banned books in the US.
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.
19. Harriet Tubman Live In Concert (Book Review)
Back from an unplanned hiatus… this week it’s Bob The Drag King’s 2025 speculative fiction novel Harriet Tubman Live In Concert!
As always, I discuss the book’s atmosphere, writing style, plot, characters, and more. Plus, a popcorn fact and our new segment “Back To The Blurb” where I revisit and then opine about the book’s promo blurb. Enjoy!
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.
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