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.

86. Ghosts of Mount Holyoke College (Part 1)

In the episode, Matt talks 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.

85. The Stone Tape Theory (With Sharon Hill)

Matt speaks with Sharon Hill about the Stone Tape Theory, a common explanation for ghosts in paranormal circles. Matt and Sharon discuss the history of the concept, its plausibility, and how it is often applied to locations that don’t actually meet the conditions required for it to work.

84. The Big Yellow House (Summerland, CA)

The Big Yellow House in Summerland is reputed to be one of the most haunted houses in California, but Matt thinks this claim is a bit overblown. In this episode, he discusses how the fading of cultural memory can lend credence to stories that are otherwise unremarkable.

83. Mudhouse Mansion

Mudhouse Mansion is one of the better-known haunted houses in Ohio. From a historically dubious story about slavery to a deeply creepy story about a woman staring out of a window for ten days straight, Mudhouse Mansion provides a range of ways to think about ghost stories.

82. Port Chatham, Alaska

Far to the north and deep in the woods, there is a ghost town… but unlike some ghost towns, this is a place where the mysteries of the forest and the supernatural converge. Matthew takes us to Alaska to unravel the facts from the fiction and to find out what Bigfoot has to do with this spooky place.

81. Odds and Ends

Matthew takes a quick look at some odds and ends… little bits of interesting stuff that doesn’t quite fit anywhere else. From who is in on the joke, what Freud has to do with folklore, and even a very famous private part, this episode has a tiny bit of everything.

80. The Skeptic Ghosthropologist

Communities of paranormal enthusiasts have long been in dialogue with communities of skeptics, therefore understanding the skeptic’s movement is relevant to understanding how paranormal beliefs develop and function. In this episode, Matt discusses the history of the skeptics community, as well as his own experiences as a former member in order to illustrate both the good and the bad of turning skepticism into an identity.