119. Ghosts of the British Museum (with Noah Angell)

In this episode, Matt talks to Noah Angell about his book Ghosts of the British Museum. How does the museum’s reputation of being the gold standard of museum collections square with its history of colonization and plunder… and how might that affect the ghosts that wander the galleries at night?

Noah Angell is an artist who has exhibited internationally, a researcher, and an author. This is his first book.

118. The Glorious Past and The Sordid Past

In this episode, Matt considers how ghost stories reflect different views of American history and considers the type of ghost stories that may result from current events. While Ghosthropology is not a show about politics, it is impossible to discuss current events and history, along with their representation through ghost folklore, without delving a bit into the subject.

117. Ghostwatch

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.

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.

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.

112. Sidetracked – J.D. Vance, UFOs, and Demons

In this episode, Matt discusses Vice President J.D. Vance’s recent comments about UFOs and demons, and what those comments likely reveal both about common American beliefs regarding the paranormal and grand conspiracies, as well as how those beliefs may play into electoral politics.

111. Sidetracked – The Black Pigs of Ireland

In this episode, Matt talks about a famous Irish ghost story… sort of… and from there discusses porcine omens, boarish monsters, and generally evil pork. He also gets to work in some discussion of zooarchaeology and a couple of St. Patrick stories.

110. La Mussara: Vanishing People in the Mountains of Spain

In this episode, Matt focuses on a haunted, possibly cursed Spanish ghost town, discusses the connections among fairies, ghosts, and UFOs, and discovers he retains language skills he thought long lost. Come hear about the cliff-side town in a Spanish mountain range, where you can check out any time you like, but you may or may not ever leave.