Ep. 31 : The Disappearance of Glen & Bessie Hyde
This week we head into the backcountry with the disappearance of Glen and Bessie Hyde, last seen paddling through the turbulent waters of the Grand Canyon National Park. It's 1928 and the park is in its infancy, drawing outdoor enthusiasts and daredevils alike. The Hydes sought to break records and gain notoriety during their 600-mile paddle trip. But in December, their family reported them missing when they failed to arrive in Needles, CA. They would never been seen again - or would they? We'll dig in to their river route, possible theories and crazy legends that are likely rooted in some fact. Halee will delight us with the cutest vanilla cake that Elise is really sad to miss out on. Happy Haunting!
Episode 30 : You Knew This Was Coming - A Listener Premonition Story
This week in EBC land, we welcome back everyone's favorite spooky mama! Halee's mom Lori is here to share some of her creepiest experiences yet... her witchy premonitions. She takes us on a journey from childhood gut instincts that terrified those around her, to the time she probably saved Halee's life by listening to her intuition (believe it or not, that's not even an exaggeration!) We drink wine, we touch on our favorite classic youtube videos, and we learn important lessons in listening to your gut. We'll even cover a few famous premonition stories and what we think about them- spoiler alert: even the skeptical inquirer couldn't ruin our belief in this phenomenon. Elise bakes up delicious chocolate cake with adorable raspberry garnish that Halee may or may not mistake for farm animals. We've got it all this week folks, and we can't wait to share it with you.
Episode 29 : The Exorcism of Roland Doe
Things get real spooky as we dive into "the deep dark waters of Satan's hell hole," aka the super metal exorcism of Roland Doe. This 1949 real-life horror story was the inspiration behind William Blatty's "The Exorcist," one of the greatest horror novels and films of all time. We'll get into the origins of Roland's possession and read through diary entries made by one of the priests on site. Of course we'll talk about weird happenings on William Friedkin's set, including deaths, unexplained fires and backbreaking injuries. And we'll wrap it all up in a tasty little bow as Halee delights us with the cutest strawberry shortcakes you've ever seen. Buckle up, Coven! It's about to get weird. Happy Haunting!
Episode 28 : The Alien Abduction of Betty & Barney Hill
On September 19th, 1961, Betty and Barney Hill began the final leg of their drive home to Portsmouth, NH from a spontaneous road trip to Niagara Falls. It was late at night, and as they snaked their way through New Hampshire's White Mountains on a remote and windy highway, Betty spotted a strange light in the sky. By dawn, they found themselves confused and disheveled, unable to account for their evening and what exactly went on. Join us as we walk step by step through Betty and Barney's fateful trip home, as they experienced what many consider to be the first alien abduction in American history. Y'all know Halee believes, and you can imagine what the Skeptical Inquirer has to say, but we want to know what you think, beautiful coven. Elise closes out our evening with a surprisingly large (but not surprisingly delicious) carrot cake!
Ep 27. Terror in Tampa Bay - The Oba Chandler Story
In June 1989, Tampa Bay was terrorized when three female bodies floated to the surface, shocking unsuspecting boaters. The women would later be identified as Joan, Michelle and Christe Rogers, tourists visiting from Ohio. With limited clues guiding investigators, it would take three years for the case to be pinned on Oba Chandler. Elise guides us through his murky past and explores how this shocking case affected the entire state. We'll also delight in some tasty treats made by Halee, and will discover some shocking truths about our favorite vintner. Kim may not be who we think she is. Happy Haunting!
Ep. 26 The Westfield Watcher
One night in June 2014, a man named Derek Broaddus was over doing some painting at his new home at 657 Boulevard in Westfield, New Jersey. Derek and his wife Maria had just closed 3 days prior, and were doing some work on the house before they moved in. Around 10 pm Derek went outside to check the mail, where he found a strange envelope addressed "to the new owner". The contents of the envelope were enough to petrify the Broaddus family, and eventually shock and captivate the entire nation. The story of "The Watcher" is as strange as it is terrifying and we can't wait for you to join us on this rollercoaster ride. Be sure to light a candle or two, or follow Elise's lead and light a whole damn fire... honestly, it might be worth it to keep The Watcher away from your windows. Before things get too scary, we round out the evening with some delicious mug cake and a whole pile of good things! Happy Haunting!
Ep 25. Spooky Hour - Unsolved Mysteries
Who doesn't love a good unsolved mystery? While we couldn't get Robert Stack on the show (RIP) we tried to channel his inner spookiness as we dove deep into some of the world's greatest unsolved mysteries. We'll chat about the Lady of the Dunes and her claim to fame in one of America's favorite films, mysterious lights that appeared over Montreal and the devil's visit to Dover. There's too many unsolved mysteries for our liking, but we're more than happy to share how spooky the world is with all of you. We'll be taking a one week hiatus as Elise hits the road and Halee hugs a life-size Mickey Mouse, but we'll be back spookier than ever on 4/29. Happy Haunting!
Ep. 24 : Charles Lindbergh’s Crime of the Century
It's always disappointing to learn that our childhood heroes aren't always who they seem. Never was there a truer example than the famous aviator Charles Lindbergh. With more than one skeleton in his closet, Lindbergh was famous for more than just flying non-stop across the Atlantic Ocean. In 1932, tragedy gripped the nation when his 20-month-old son Charles Jr. was taken through a nursery window. Thirteen ransom notes and monetary demands take us all over New York and New Jersey as we try to uncover the true kidnapper and investigate why they'd take sweet Charles. We'll unpack Lindbergh's lesser known history and reveal truths about America's "Lone Eagle" that he'd rather have left in the dark. At the close, Halee delights us with delicious Lucky Charms rice crispy treats. Happy Haunting!
Ep. 23 : The Sex Cult of the Upper West Side
It's the 60s, and free love is all around. Everything is groovy, and when you hear about some fun young people living communally on the upper west side, you think 'how bad could it be?' The answer, my friends, is very very bad. This week we learn all about a creepy New York sex cult that existed from the 60s all the way through to the early 90s! And neither of us had ever heard about it until this week?! The Sullivanians founded an 'institute' and provided 'therapy' to hundreds of people during their tenure as the reigning psychotherapeutic sex cult of the city. It's wild, it's scary, and we're just hoping it doesn't exist anymore so they won't put a hit out on us. Once we're thoroughly creeped out, Elise comes to the rescue with something lemony and sweet. Join us for this strange and paranoid adventure through the Sullivanian institute.
Ep. 22 : Spooky Hour - Urban Legends
It's been a minute since our last Spooky Hour, and for our latest jaunt down Mystery Lane, we're covering some of our favorite urban legends. From the horrifying tales of the Murdering Bunny Man, to the chilling story of Julia Legare being buried alive, we're excited to bring you an episode filled with all things spooky. Happy Haunting!
Ep. 21 : The Scarring Saga of Stigmata
Our podcast is old enough to drink! And you're gonna need one to make it through this roller coaster ride of an episode. Elise takes a deep dive into the Catholic religion and shares strange accounts of Stigmata. More than 300 people claim to have received the marks of Christ's crucifixion on their hands, feet, sides and heads. We'll dig into some of the most famous accounts, from the beloved St. Francis of Assisi to a 10-year-old girl diagnosed with "Easter Bleeding Syndrome." We'll hear about theories and discuss other odd phenomena surrounding Catholicism. All in all, it gets pretty metal. Halee delights us with delicious chocolate cupcakes with espresso buttercream. Happy Haunting!
Ep. 20 : The Explosive History of Spontaneous Human Combustion
Do you ever feel like life is just too easy, and there's not enough to worry about? Fear not friends, we've got you covered... This week we'll add to your baseline anxiety as we explore whether we should be afraid of bursting into flames at any given moment. Halee will take us through a long history of folks spontaneously combusting, from as early as 1470, all the way up to modern times. Halee's on-again off-again boyfriend Joe Nickell, of the Skeptical Inquirer, says it's all made up. Find out our *hot* takes on the matter and decide what you think! Pop some bottles alongside us as we celebrate our 20th episode and Elise cooks up some criminally delicious bite-sized cinnamon rolls. Make sure you light your candle, but don't sit too close this week! Happy Haunting!
Ep. 19 : Rod Ferrell’s Vampire Masquerade
We fully endorse sucking on lollipops, popsicles, and sometimes even thumbs. What did you think we were going to say? We're married women! But we just can't get behind sucking on blood. Rod Ferrell didn't get the memo. In 1996, he and his fellow nerds formed vampire clans in Murray, KY and embraced the "vampiric lifestyle." Whatever that means. Unfortunately, Rod was unable to separate fact from fiction and his otherworldly fantasies bled into real life, taking the lives of two innocents. This story takes us from Kentucky to Florida, all the way to Baton Rouge, Louisiana. We'll get into what it's like to be a vampire in a world full of lowly humans and ask the hard questions, like was Rod really a blood sucking demon? Spoiler alert : no. At the close, Halee treats us with some delicious peanut butter cookies. Happy Haunting!
Ep. 18 : Lock Your Damn Doors - A Home Invasion Listener Story
This week we embark on an entirely new kind of episode - Listener Stories! And who better to start with than someone we've talked so much bout - Halee's mom! We'll hear a fraction of Lori's creepy stories, starting with a very scary home invasion tale from the 80s. We may even uncover who the mysterious intruder was. We'll hear about weird packages Halee received in the mail and robberies gone awry when Elise worked at Subway. There's all kinds of great little nuggets in our 18th episode. Happy Haunting!
Ep. 17 : Escaping a Serial Killer: The Kara Robinson Story
This week gets very intense as we attempt to do justice to the incredible survival story of Kara Robinson Chamberlain. Kara was just 15 years old when she was taken from the front yard of her best friend's house in June of 2002. Without giving away too many spoilers- you really have to hear this remarkable story- Kara showed incredible mental strength and courage, and came up with a plan to escape. In doing so, she not only escaped a serial killer, but brought justice to his past victims, and saved countless young women from the same future fate. Kara is a remarkable woman, sharing the lessons she learned as an empowering public speaker and advocate for mental health. Join us as we learn her story, whilst sipping on Kimmy (duh). As we close out the episode, Elise shares a big life update, and we enjoy some tasty treats! You really don’t want to miss this one.
Ep. 16 : Revenge of the Greenbrier Ghost
Didn't think a murder victim could return from the grave demanding justice? Think again! In this episode, we're heading back to West Virginia to the murder trial of Zona Heaster Shue, more commonly known as the Greenbrier Ghost. Strange occurrences surrounded the death of Zona, like the high-necked collar her husband dressed her in immediately after her death, but none so strange as the ghostly encounter her mother Mary witnessed four separate times. If you're still not convinced ghosts are among us, tune in to Episode 16 for all the compelling details. You'll also be treated with sure-fire proof of aliens, ooky spooky dream stories, and Halee's delicious cream cheese brownies. Happy Haunting!
Ep 15 : A Haunting History of the Crescent Hotel
This week we go back in time to explore the very mysterious history of Eureka Springs, Arkansas. Situated in the Ozark Mountains and built around a natural spring, the town grew from a (likely fictional) legend of a Sioux princess who lost her sight, only to have her eyes healed by the spring water. Eventually the spring was discovered by white settlers, which of course led immediately to the monetization of the water's magical properties. This tale takes a lot of sharp twists and turns as we follow the construction of a luxurious hotel for all the tourists flocking to get in on the magic, and learn about the many functions of the hotel over the years. From a women's college, to a phony cancer center (complete with a morgue!), we'll find out about the ghostly residents whose spirits are still roaming the halls of the building over a century later. We end the episode with some delicious sugar cookies made by Elise! Happy Haunting!
Ep 14: Point Pleasant and the Mothman’s Reign of Terror
The year is 1966, and the town of Point Pleasant has been given a bit more than it can handle. Beach ball-sized orbs are floating down the river, the Men in Black are knocking at the front door, and a man with a 10-foot wingspan is seen flying overhead. Angel or demon? Prophet or fantasy? This week, Elise dives into the legend of the Mothman and the tragedy that secured his place in history. We'll discuss theories, ponder John Keel's findings and ask the hard questions, like where does Mothman live when he's not haunting small towns? Our first cryptid episode would not be complete without a little sex appeal, so Halee brings her saucy knowledge to the table, along with some delicious Easy Bake Oven scones. Happy haunting!
Ep 13: The Very Saucy Abduction of Antonio Villas Boas
Flirtatious UFOs? A Brazilian farmer smothered in goo? Seductive humanoids? Strap in folks, because this week's episode has it all! Today we cover the abduction of Antonio Villas Boas, who claimed in 1957 to have a very... interesting UFO encounter. We'll learn about the weeks leading up to the abduction and the signs that something was to come, the fateful night that Boas says 5 foot tall humanoids snatched him, and of course, we'll talk about the one lady humanoid that got away. Is there a cute little human/alien hybrid baby out there in space somewhere, wondering about his earthling father? We'll share the compelling evidence, as well as the holes in his story, and you can be the judge! Before we retire for the evening, Elise delights our palates with oatmeal cookies (or salad cookies, as Halee calls them) and we ponder our own mortalities. Pour yourself a glass of Kimmy, and join us on this wild and weird adventure. Happy haunting!
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!