Ep. 12 : Getting into Spiritualism with Shannon Taggart
This week we sit down with award winning photographer Shannon Taggart, author of the monograph SÉANCE. We'll dive into Spiritualism and explore the practices that date back to the Fox Sisters. We'll get into spoon bending, the validity of orbs and the ever-controversial capture of ectoplasm. At the center of it all is the community of Lily Dale, a spiritualism hub in upstate New York. Join us as we navigate the fascinating world of Spiritualism and the devoted community behind it. Happy Haunting!
Ep. 8: A Not So Merry Krampus Christmas
We can't believe it's almost Christmas, so in the spirit of the season, we've decided to scare the hell out of you (or into you!) This week, Elise takes us past the peaks of the jagged Eastern Alps and into valleys full of tradition and intrigue. We'll dig deep into the history of Krampus and his band of spooky specters, all while St. Nicholas and his weeping bones stand by to make sure we're being nice, not naughty. For the latter, Krampus is ready with his whips and chains to drag us straight to hell, where all bad children go. Krampus isn't the only ghoul around on Christmas - we'll uncover the Perchten, Bloody Thomas, Wild Barbaras and even Werewolves. In the spirit of tradition, we'll imbibe with pink festive drinks from Elise's past and enjoy a delicious chocolate chip cookie dough cake straight from our Easy Bake Oven. If you're searching for the spooky side of this cheerful holiday, this is the episode for you. Happy Haunting!
Ep 6: The Ghosts of the Red Onion Saloon
Many Gold Rush towns are full of history, trauma and plenty of great ghost stories, but perhaps the most notorious of these is Skagway, Alaska. In a time when gunslingers and outlaws made the rules, Skagway's streets were flooded with "women of negotiable affection" and the brothels that housed them. The most desirable was the Red Onion Saloon. Today, the Saloon welcomes visitors from all over the world, providing drinks, food and tours of the upstairs brothel museum. Elise and Halee chat with museum curator Cori Giacomazzi about her ghostly encounters from within the brothel's walls, and hear spine-tinging details about a ghost who won't be named. We'll hear about Elise's summer spent as a tour guide and learn how the brothel's most notorious ghost Lydia perished. This week's episode is full of ghostly goodness, and we highly recommend you listen in the dark - if you dare. Happy Haunting!
Ep. 1: A History of Halloween
Dust off your broomsticks and open up your spell books, this week we're diving into the ever-evolving history of our favorite spooky holiday - Halloween! Elise takes us through the origins of All Hallows' Eve, starting in Ireland with the Celts. We'll explore the mysticism of Samhain, ride alongside the headless Dullahan and learn why we light up our carved pumpkins at night. We'll travel through the centuries, investigating Halloween's evolution and its journey to becoming a household tradition throughout America. Halee will dish up a delicious slice of chocolatey Soul Cake, baked in our very own Easy Bake Oven, and fill us in on the most up-to-date spooky news. Happy Haunting!