David is joined by folklorist Dr. Lynne McNeill to discuss Digital Folklore! A topic that spans culture, anthropology, sociology, and modern legends, Digital Folklore is a growing and evolving phenomenon happening right in front of us. Dr. McNeill, professor at Utah State University, is an expert on folklore and folklore in an online context in particular. She discusses Internet legend origins, settings, proliferation and more. How do these things fit in a cultural perspective? What makes someth...
Nov 27, 2020•1 hr 1 min•Season 9Ep. 249
Blurry Photober wraps up with the annual ghost stories episode! This year's ghost stories episode will be a bit different, as Flora has selected several poems of the spooky and silly variety to share. Some spooky, some silly, some philosophical, all poetry! It's a nice little after dinner mint, with the dinner being lots of heavy subjects this month. Cleanse your palette with a short but sweet culturally-charged episode! And stay tuned for more interviews and explorations on Blurry Photos! Don't...
Nov 07, 2020•27 min•Season 9Ep. 248
The horror continues in Blurry Photober with a mega episode about the Barnabet axe murders. Flora is joined by authors Alan Gauthreaux and Dr. Daryl Hippensteel as well as numerous Louisianans to explore the ghastly tale of the Barnabet axe murders. Southwestern Louisiana was terrorized in 1911-12 by brutal axe murders. One young woman was pinned with not only perpetrating them, but possibly masterminding more. Hoodoo and Voodoo were found to be involved, which the media picked up at the time an...
Oct 31, 2020•1 hr 28 min•Season 9Ep. 247
Tackling a classic of Voodoo movie-dom, Derek, David, and Zenger took a look at The Serpent and the Rainbow for this roundtable. The boys are joined by the amazing and incredibly knowledgable Dr. Emily Zarka to discuss the Serpent and the Rainbow and other zombie lore! Dr. Zarka hosts Monstrum , a show about legends and lore on PBS. She shares insights on zombie folklore and discusses what she thinks worked in the film and what didn't. Make sure to check her show out and don't forget to give the...
Oct 27, 2020•1 hr 9 min
Flora is back with the second part of Vengeful Ghosts ! Blurry Photober keeps rolling with Vengeful Ghosts part 2 and several tales of spirits claiming revenge through law. Hear the story of Maria Marten and the Red Barn murder. Take an ear gander at a murder tale from old England. See what you think about Fisher's Ghost from Australia and Teresita Basa from Chicago. And learn about the odd circumstances surrounding the death of Zona Shue Heaster from West Virginia. David presents these cases an...
Oct 26, 2020•52 min•Season 9Ep. 246
Kick off Blurry Photober with a 2-part episode all about vengeful ghosts! The souls of those wronged and/or murdered in life have a way of avenging their mistreatment as vengeful ghosts. Flora runs you through a short list of these types of spirits in the first of a 2-parter. Go continent hopping and learn some highlights from many different cultures. Learn some important lessons from the Churel, Ngozi, La Sayona, Chindi, and more . Keep that roving eye under control, and for goodness' sake don'...
Oct 14, 2020•46 min•Season 9Ep. 246
The boys are back with another roundtable, this time on the 2018 film The Meg! Generously falling under the umbrella of ancient surviving cryptid, The Meg is a sci-fi action movie about terrible giant sharks. And the terror doesn't end there. David, Derek, and Justin all weigh in with thoughts and opinions on how this film measured up. One Justin's favorites, did D&D agree? Or did they find it rather fishy? Tune in to find out if the shark satisfied Flora's need for giant murder machines. De...
Oct 02, 2020•57 min
Pack your granola bars, air mattress, and an extra set of pants, it's time to get back outdoors for another installment of Campfire Ghost Stories! Flora reads 4 tales of terror and a poem by a selection of famous authors for the 8th edition of Campfire Ghost Stories. Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, Guy de Maupassant, and Alfred Noyes are among the writers for an early 20th century flavor to this one. A ghostly kiss of death, a highwayman, an out of control car, and more await your ears! It's a fun episo...
Sep 30, 2020•51 min•Season 9Ep. 245
Blurriever and patron David S becomes the show's first Tsoukalos Sound-level supporter and got to jump on a BullPhone call with Flora! David shares his personal experiences from a very haunted west coast town and Flora learns about some Santa Cruz history in this BullPhone. From shadowy figures and recurring spectres to hairless coneheads in the basement, David tells of many hauntings from the places he's called home. There's even a lady in black who stands in the surf on the beach! Don't forget...
Aug 27, 2020•1 hr 18 min
Dr. Jeffrey Anderson returns with a handful of stories on unexpected consequences of hoodoo! That old adage, "be careful what you wish for," is in full effect in these real stories of unexpected consequences of hoodoo. Dr. Anderson tells several accounts of folk magic gone wrong. If you're familiar with the W. W. Jacobs short story The Monkey's Paw, you might recognize some of the traits inherent in these tales. Drawing from real life encounters and articles, Dr. Anderson discusses how folk magi...
Aug 10, 2020•1 hr 1 min•Season 9Ep. 244
David welcomes Scott and Amberrose from the Ghostly Talk Podcast to the show! A conversational show about any and all weirdities, the Ghostly Talk Podcast joins Blurry Photos and shares some EVPs. Scott and Amber discuss their show, how they came to be involved in the paranormal, and then get into EVPs they collected in their investigations. The duo has been on numerous ghost hunts in and around Michigan and neighboring states. With many stories and a handful of audio examples, they discuss a br...
Jul 12, 2020•1 hr 29 min•Season 9Ep. 243
Flora invited the authors of The Conspiracy Theory Handbook, Dr. Stephan Lewandowsky and Dr. John Cook, on the podcast to discuss their recent work. A powerful little tool breaking down the ins and outs of conspiratorial thinking, The Conspiracy Theory Handbook seeks to inform on how to better engage in critical thinking. David has a large handful of questions for the gentlemen. It's a fascinating discussion into how conspiracies can be approached and how to engage theorists and those who aren't...
Jun 28, 2020•1 hr 14 min•Season 9Ep. 242
The boys are back at the roundtable, this time taking a look at the 2019 film The Curse of La Llorona! A familiar bit of folklore to Blurry Photos, Flora and the guys see how well The Curse of La Llorona stacks up against the legends. The weeping woman might have a reason to cry after this portrayal. The film is a relatively lucrative addition to the Conjuring Universe franchise. Though it had some good success at the box office, does it live up to the hype? Derek from Monsters Among Us and Zeng...
Jun 18, 2020•1 hr 1 min
The winner of Week 3 of the 2020 Miss Cryptid Contest is announced! This episode is a refresher of the weekly Miss Cryptid winners so you can vote on who should win the 2020 contest. If you haven't heard the 3 "regular competition" episodes yet and want to listen in order and discover who wins, don't listen to this one first. You can find the 3 episodes on the Blurry Photos Podcast page . If you have listened, this will serve as a reminder for each winner so you can vote for the champion freshly...
Jun 13, 2020•42 min
With a resounding roar, the 2020 Miss Cryptid Contest regular competition draws to a close! The final three Miss Cryptid contestants hail from all over the globe and include the Nandi Bear, Rusalka, and Euroa Beast. Hope from Africa to Eastern Europe to Australia with this week's lively ladies! A couple of beasts bookend a beauty, and all are sure to fill hearts with fear. Who will fill you heart the most? A cryptid of Nandi lore? An enigmatic Slavic mermaid? Or a bunyip-like beastie? Make sure ...
Jun 06, 2020•56 min
The carnage continues with 3 new loathsome ladies in week 2 of the 2020 Miss Cryptid Contest! In the second week of this year's Miss Cryptid competition, Melon Heads, the Con Rit, and Black Annis battle for savage supremacy. Who will move on to the finals? Will it be Leicestershire's horrid hag? Vietnam's atrocious arthropod? Or the misshapen monstrosities of the U.S. Melon Heads? Listen to this cavalcade of folklore, urban legend, and cryptozoology then cast your vote on the Blurry Photos Home ...
May 29, 2020•41 min
A lone trololo cuts through the night, and that can only mean one thing - it's time once again for the annual Miss Cryptid Contest! Now in its 8th year, the Miss Cryptid Contest opens with the Adlet, the Chiang Rai Scarecrow, and the California Dark Watchers. From the harsh cold of northern North American, to the rice fields of Thailand, to the sunny coast of California, these feral fiends will vie for your attention. They will also fight nonstop for your vote! It's your choice of who moves on t...
May 20, 2020•31 min
Do you like fish sticks? David, Derek, and Zenger return to the roundtable to discuss The Shape of Water in this bonus episode! Winner of 4 Academy Awards including Best Picture, The Shape of Water is a uniquely gorgeous film featuring a strange creature worthy of a chat at the roundtable. The boys sit down to discuss what they enjoyed about the movie. They also talk about the cryptid elements, Lovecraft connections, and more. Most folks know it for its fishy love story, but Flora and the boys s...
May 11, 2020•1 hr 4 min
David welcomes the author of The Essential Guide to Bigfoot, Ken Gerhard , for an interview about the classic hairy hominid! An accomplished cryptozoologist and author, Ken Gerhard joins to discuss his newest work The Essential Guide to Bigfoot, a primer on hairy hominids around the world. Flora asks Ken about his adventures and thoughts on this famous cryptid. Ken brings years of boots on the ground research to the discussion. It's a good foray into the lore of the king of all cryptids! Make su...
Apr 24, 2020•54 min•Season 9Ep. 241
It's a throwback to last year with audio from the Wizard World 2019 panel that David moderated! The Wizard World 2019 panel on paranormal podcasting included various Chicagoland podcasters speaking about the ins and outs of the trade. The event didn't have audio recording of its own, so Flora brought a handheld recorder and picked up the panel. The quality is not the greatest, but it was a fun discussion! The panel featured Dark Mark Soloff of Blastropodcast, Brent Hand of Hysteria 51, Nick Mata...
Apr 21, 2020•50 min
Raise your glass of Guinness, shot of Jameson, or Harp/Killian's/Smithwick's/Kilkenny/etc. and toast to Season 9 of Blurry Photos with an episode of Irish ghosts! There's no shortage of hair-raising tales of Irish ghosts from the Emerald Isle, and Flora tells four of 'em while enjoying a nice drink in this episode. Three poltergeists and a wandering phantom are included in the season opener. And you even get a bonus poem to boot! Hear tell of Petticoat Loose, Corney the poltergeist, a haunted ab...
Apr 16, 2020•48 min•Season 9Ep. 240
Join David, Derek, and Zenger for another night at the roundtable as they discuss the 1973 special In Search Of Ancient Mysteries! Before the series began, there was In Search Of Ancient Mysteries, a television special narrated by Rod Serling. The show covered a wide array of Forteana from history. Such topics included out of place artifacts, Atlantis, Tiawanaku, Nazca Lines, and so much more. Derek from Monsters Among Us Podcast and Zenger from the Zeng This! Podcast join Flora and review this ...
Mar 13, 2020•1 hr 3 min
The Kickstarter campaign for "Shadows in the Desert: High Strangeness in the Borrego Triangle" is live! Visit the Kickstarter campaign page to make a contribution toward funding this amazing project. David and Derek have only just begun the journey to making a fascinating and unique new documentary about the anomalous phenomena in the Anza-Borrego desert. But they need your help to make this vision come to life! If you contribute to their campaign, not only will you help them achieve their goal,...
Mar 10, 2020•12 min
Something there or just hot air? Flora is back with a deep dive into the fascinating events of the Falcon Lake incident! An amazing Canadian UFO case, the Falcon Lake incident is often regarded as one of the most investigated and strongest UFO cases in history. Stefan Michalak was out on a prospecting trip near Falcon Lake, Manitoba, when he witnesses 2 UFOs in the sky. When one landed not far from him, his curiosity led him to a close encounter that would forever change his life. David tackles ...
Mar 01, 2020•1 hr 24 min•Season 8Ep. 239
Can't Hyde from critical thought! David is joined by skeptic, folklorist, and all-around awesome person, Deborah Hyde to discuss skepticism! A philosophy present in every topic covered on the show, skepticism plays an important role in exploring paranormal subjects. Deborah, editor of The Skeptic magazine, shares her insights of being a skeptic. She also answers questions on the nature of skepticism and belief today. It's an interview of thought-provoking questions and interesting perspectives. ...
Jan 29, 2020•54 min•Season 8Ep. 238
Want to know more? Read the book! Or listen to the podcast. Flora is joined by Ryan from Rumor Flies and Brent from Hysteria 51 to discuss the classic Time Life book series Mysteries of the Unknown . A 33-book set detailing all kinds of Forteana and weird topics, Time Life's Mysteries of the Unknown introduced high strangeness to countless individuals around the world. The boys get together to go over the books in the series, including highlights and influences from each. It's a blast of all kin...
Jan 19, 2020•1 hr 20 min•Season 8Ep. 237
A review of Voodoo for you! Flora is joined by History professor Dr. Jeffrey Anderson for a very informative discussion on Hoodoo and Voodoo! One of the foremost experts on Hoodoo and Voodoo, Dr. Jeffrey Anderson offers a detailed interview on the history and culture of this poorly-understood religion. David asks questions on how it got started, how it spread and evolved, and what the modern practice looks like. The pantheon of deities is discussed, as is the distinction between hoodoo and even ...
Dec 23, 2019•1 hr 6 min•Season 8Ep. 236
Hellectric Boogaloo The roundtable is back in action as Derek and Zenger join Flora to discuss the newly-released Hellier 2 by Planet Weird. Hellier 2 picks up with more questions and mysteries as the Planet Weird crew chase down answers in an ever-growing, ever-thickening plot. David and the boys talk about expectations, realizations, and aggravations after watching the new series. Were loose ends tied up? Did any questions get answered? Should you play the synchronicity drinking game? Find out...
Dec 18, 2019•1 hr 7 min
A tapestry of terror awaits you to close out this year's Blurry Photober with Ghost Stories 8! Chock full of original works, Ghost Stories 8 has selections of cosmic, supernatural, and psychological horror. Blurrievers Adam B. and Sean Hill have contributed stories of their own, so make sure to check out their stuff. And make sure to pre-order Sean's book, The Dark Stared Back on Inkshares! He needs our help to fund his project. Enjoy this year's selection of spooky tales, it's a bit headier tha...
Dec 12, 2019•1 hr 4 min•Season 8Ep. 235
I'm lycan the science on this one. Woof. The second part of Werewolves is coming at you! Flora dives into the science, medicine, and social context of werewolves to shed some light on the current lore. How is the moon connected to them? What are the ways to kill or cure one? What medical conditions have been put forward to explain the condition? David explores the psychological side as well as how Hollywood shaped our understanding. Folklorist Deborah Hyde also shares her insights into the socio...
Nov 26, 2019•1 hr•Season 8Ep. 234
