Castles & Cryptids - podcast cover

Castles & Cryptids

Welcome to Castles & Cryptids,  a paranormal podcast hosted by a couple of Canadian chickies! Follow Alanna and Kelsey  down the rabbit hole as we explore lore and legends, murder and mysteries, the unsolved and the unexplained.  Where the castles are haunted and the cryptids are cryptic AF! 

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Episodes

196: Notable Canadian Cases

Welcome back cryptic cuties, we hope you are having a great summer. Apologies for Kelsey's audio quality, we didn't notice it when we were recording (but ironic given us talking about other podcasts audio in our into), hopefully everyone still enjoys the ep! Kelsey kicks things off with the tale of Canadian folk hero 'Monica la Mitraille', a successful bank robber who took matters into her own hands in order to provide for her children. Featuring a high speed car chase that sounds like something...

Aug 08, 20251 hr 49 min

195: Old Cases of Cold Ones

Hey you beautiful people, we're back (on our bullsh*t :P ) First we chat about some milestones like graduation, adulting, gardening, and something we now know is called "holiday Creep". Spoilers, it's not a true crime or cryptid though! Just scary capitalism! Also it's the summer of Mr. Pink for one of us.... But Kelsey case dives us right in to some older accounts of vampirism, exhumation, and in particular the confounding case of Arnold Paole, the Monster of Medvegna, maybe. This story out of ...

Jul 25, 20252 hr 3 min

194: American Revolution

What does a one person submarine and a secret spy ring have in common? The American Revolution of course! This week we decided to learn a bit more about our neighbours to the south and take a deeper look at some of the events surrounding their independence. Kelsey has the low down on Bushnell's Turtle, a submersible with a success rate of zero, that still managed to become world famous thanks to its inventors and pilots. Alanna shares the story of Anna Strong and the Culper spy ring, who were ab...

Jul 11, 20251 hr 34 min

193: Cryptic East-Coaster Cryptids

It's high time to head back to the Maritimes, but for creepy guys and not true crime time! So we went down the East Coast to collect the weirdest, wildest, and occasionally most depressing/pitiful of the cryptids of North America. We start with a Pukwudgie, and end with a Squonk, and there are a few other weirdos in between. .Some Creature VIPs if you ask me! Their tricksy, some are teary and weepy as a teenager, and I think we can all relate to that! So tune in and turn on to some of the sillie...

Jun 27, 20251 hr 59 min

192:: Bodies in the Water

Well, we've done it again, another episode of crimes on the water.Why are there so many cases to choose from? So enjoy pondering Kelsey's "lifeboat case' an oldie but a crazy one that presents a moral dilemma. What would you do in that situation? and then Alanna Takes us on a journey of cruise ship crimes. Mostly disappearances,from the well-known story of Amy Bradlel, to a couple called Hue Pham and Hue Tran all who seem to vanish into thin air.Or into deep water.... Even if not murder, we have...

Jun 21, 20251 hr 50 min

191: Twins

Hey cryptic cuties! This week we have a wild ep focusing on just some of the different types of twins out there in the world. Kelsey has a collection of some famous conjoined twins over the centuries and how being conjoined effected their lives. Alanna takes things in the opposite direction, with the stories of some twins who were intentionally separated at birth and raised by different families in a study of nature vs. nurture. Closing the ep out are some anecdotes of twin telepathy. Happy list...

Jun 13, 20252 hr 13 min

190: Crime In Sports

This week we are back with a vengeance! First up is the story of Lauren McCluskey. A track and filed star who story ended too soon in a tragic way, involving stalking. The repercussions were great from this horrible, yet probably preventable murder. Then it's on to something completely different with 10 Cent Beer Night. Alanna covers this infamous Cleveland baseball promo-night-gone-wild. And it does get fairly nude and violent, as Monty Python might say! So get ready for a roller-coaster episod...

Jun 06, 20251 hr 57 min

189. Haunted AF: Hospitals

We're back, did you miss us? This week we have some very creepy hospitals to share with you, one located very far from us, and another much closer to home. Kelsey covers the Clark Air Base Hospital, a sinister building with a violent past, it is no surprise it is said to be super haunted. Alanna tells us about the Charles Camsell Hospital, featuring first hand accounts from patients and nurses, it's safe to say its complicated history has both good and very dark experiences. Don't go exploring a...

May 23, 20251 hr 55 min

Darkcast Diversion: F**k That Podcast

Hello you lovely listeners and happy Friday! We had a busy week here in Cryptic-ville, so here's a little double feature to get you through to our next episode. We think you'll enjoy! It's our friends over at F**k That pod, with two gripping tales. The Eastbound Four:The West Atlantic City Murders is first up. Covering the murders of Kim Raffo, Barbara Breidor, Molly Jean Dilts, and Tracy Ann Roberts in 2006, you won't want to miss it. Then it's The Disappearance of Frederick Valentich which we ...

May 16, 20251 hr 19 min

188: Bodies in a bag: I Spy Edition

This week we pry into some closed-up cases- a couple mysteries with some big clues and many questions. Like Kelsey covering the death of Mee Kuen (Deborah) Chong, a woman who was just selling her house. She was then tragically killed and the police were left to try and unravel the reason why. Finally we have the case of the Spy in the Bag, aka the death of Gareth Williams, a highly intelligent agent skilled in math and codes. The man was working for MI6 at the time of his death, and the details ...

May 09, 20252 hr 2 min

187: South American Folklore

Hey cryptic cuties, we hope you are enjoying our South America focused eps for the last couple weeks. We love learning about different countries and their folklore, and are always excited to share it with you all. Kelsey takes a dive into the beliefs of the Mapuche people of Chile and Argentina, whose folklore centers around duality and balance between opposing forces, bleeding into everything, including their creatures. Alanna shares the history of el duende, a trickster spirit that may try to ...

May 02, 20251 hr 50 min

186: Heist, Heist, Maybe (Murder)?

Heading to Argentina this week, to see what true crimes we can find there, and boy did we find a few. Starting off with a wild yet mostly harmless robbery. Remember our first heist episode, 10,000 years ago? Neither do we, but we know Kelsey's case had fake mustaches, just like this case, but this one sees your fake mustache, and raises you a fake yarmulke! It's kind of bonkers really, with Ninja turtle inspired plans and themed names, negotiations by Pizza the hut*, and elaborate plans, this ca...

Apr 25, 20252 hr 29 min

185: Nearly Dead...or Not

You only live once, you know what they say! Or do you? For some people's stories, it's not so clear. In Kelsey's case, a woman puts the "awake" back in, well, a wake. The Legend of Margorie McCall, or the Lady with the Ring, is steeped in mystery as only a story from the 1700's can be. From body-snatchers to romantic doctors to dramatic jump-scare surprises, it really runs the gamut. Don't miss it and don't mess with the Lady of the Ring! We time-travel forward to 1990 for the British Airways ac...

Apr 18, 20251 hr 50 min

184: Pet Detectives Unit

Move over Ace Ventura, we have a furry team of case-cracking critters on the team! At least 3 birds, including a pet duck, cats and dogs too. All solving the murder or missing persons case of their owner or someone else entirely! It's a rowdy, wild round-up of pet hair, disgruntled employees, a Beady-Eyed Lane bird, TSA tangents, and movie mentions of course! Oh and Gordo the diva cat inserts himself in the mix, we think he was jealous of all the animal attention, maybe? Tune in to these tails o...

Apr 11, 20251 hr 25 min

183: Springtime Cryptids

We hope you survived last weeks ep, this one is much lighter. We thought we should celebrate Spring, renewal and rebirth, with a bit of a cryptid twist. First we learn about the Miniwashitu, a creature who is both feared and respected by the Indigenous groups in North Dakota. Its arrival in the spring is long awaited, and it also has a very important job to do. Next up is the Tiyanak, a terrifying creature from Filipino folklore that commonly takes the form of a helpless baby. Once you have been...

Apr 04, 20251 hr 24 min

182: Some who Snapped

So it's another true crime, so we warn you it sucks. However. we always can learn something, we hope. Kelsey tells us of the story of Maria and Domenico, a Telanovela -esque tale that might just also qualify as a tale as old s time. Then we have a massive trigger warning for graphic details, etc. Unfortunately, mental health issues plagued Vince Li. so he tried to make himself as safe S POSSIBLE. Listen to find out. Love you all, Keep it Cryptic!...

Mar 28, 20252 hr 14 min

Darkcast Diversion: 100 Seconds to Midnight

We LOVE our Darkcast Network shows, such as Cause of Death: !00 Seconds to Midnight! This show reminds us when and why to really be wary of humanity's collapse! Are we really going down with the next big Volcano eruption? etc. It's so fascinating my friends, so sit back and see if bats are going to kill us or not. Or something else! And we shall return next eek for your regular scheduled programming! so Keep it Cryptic!

Mar 21, 202554 min

181: Unearthing Ancient Cultures

Everyone wish Alanna a happy birthday!!! For this very special ep we covered two very old civilizations and cultures that have definitely left their mark on history. The eruption of Mount Vesuvius caused devastating damage to Pompeii and surrounding areas, but how much do you really know about the city? We take a trip back in time and learn a bit about what life may have been like over 2000 years ago. Alanna takes a deeper look into some Celtic traditions, from fire festivals to handfasting, and...

Mar 14, 20251 hr 55 min

180: Lana Turner +Johnny Stompanato: Love Hurts

APOLOGIES for the Delay, tech issues struck again! Trigger warning: for Abuse, Attempted Suicide, Miscarriage and sexual abuse mentions. Please listen with care. Old Hollywood Part Two is here and its all about the "Goddess and the Gangster" aka Lana Turner and Johnny Stompanato. Let's just say it's a bit of a rollercoaster, rags to riches story with a raging violent streak. We go through Lana's early life and who she married before she met Johnny (she could give Liz Taylor a run for her money!)...

Mar 08, 20252 hr

179: Captivating Hollywood Crimes

Hey cryptic cuties, this week we take a trip back in time to the Golden age of Hollywood. In 1949 Jean Spangler was a star on the rise, only in her late 20's she was already a triple threat and seemed to be gaining more recognition for her many talents. All that changed when Jean didn't return home the morning after shooting for a new film all night. As investigations began, more and more questions are raised with very few answers. Tune in as we unravel all the details, from theories and suspect...

Feb 28, 20251 hr 26 min

178: Uncovering Black Figures from History

Join us as we discover and uncover some lesser featured notable African Americans for Black History Month! So many people have fought so hard for their rights in history, we love learning about the ones we never learned much of in school. Kelsey tells us the life and legacy of Marsha P. Johnson, an activist, drag queen, and American sweetheart that took New York by storm. She is remembered for her work in gay rights, as well as advocating for trans rights and AIDS activism. Truly a treasure that...

Feb 21, 20252 hr 41 min

177: The Dark Side of Social Media

Social media has been a huge part of our lives for the last 20 years, with its ability to connect people from all around the world to brightening someones day with a viral video or meme. Todays ep features 2 cases when social media platforms were used for a far more sinister reason. Kelsey covers a series of Death Lists that appeared on Facebook in early 2010, targeting almost 100 young people in Columbia it led to the death of 3 people before police took it seriously. Alanna details the case of...

Feb 14, 20251 hr 50 min

176: The Mystical Occult

What is the occult? It's the supernatural, the spiritual and mystical beliefs and practices. So it can be so many things, really. Which we love! Kelsey covers an early tarot-researcher and occultist named Etteilla, from 18th-century France. He made significant strides in tarot card reading in his time. And then for something completely different! Scent, memory and the spiritual side of fragrance use like incense is the theme of Alanna's segment. Some people believed that incense helped guide the...

Feb 07, 20252 hr 8 min

175: Fighting to Survive

This week we have two very different survival stories for you, featuring a lot of trigger warnings, so take care of yourselves as you listen. Kelsey shares the story of Jennifer Holiday and her cousin Ana Franklin, who are on a late night drive when a vehicle begins following them. What happens next is something anyone would struggle to keep their cool during. Alanna covers the Teka Adams case, filled with strange and bizarre actions, it feels straight out of a horror movie. Shout out to the I S...

Jan 31, 20251 hr 53 min

174: Haunted AF: Haunted Places

Hey cryptic crew, happy Friday and Happy New Episode!! to bookend our haunted spaces episode, let's head to some far-off spots with spooks and stuff! Alanna has a short list of haunted suspects, so let's explore some creepy places together! From so-called Ghost Churches, to sunken burial lagoons, it's a whole new world for us in this episode! Just not a happy one....

Jan 24, 202558 min

173: The Island of No Return

Welcome cryptic cuties, this week we take another dive into our haunted places series, this time with a very old and very creepy island. Poveglia Island, located in the Venice lagoon, dates back to the 5th century and has a troubling past that has earned it the title of the island of no return. With everything from sickness, quarantines, death and mass graves, to psychiatric hospitals and lobotomies, this place checks all the boxes and is definitely haunted AF. The people who have managed to get...

Jan 17, 20251 hr 14 min

172: Crimes on the Water

Where there's smoke, there's fire...even on the water. We do keep coming back to this well (pun very much intended), of watery cases, as so many strange cases happen when one loses their life on the water. Or around the water, or in a flaming boat like a little too-early of a Viking funeral. Woof, sorry, this one is very dark indeed, with 2 cold cases of murder offshore. Kelsey takes us to Alaska, where the Coulthurst family was taking their annual fishing vacation. We still aren't sure why it e...

Jan 10, 20251 hr 46 min

171: Cryptic Creatures of the New Age

Welcome back cryptic crew, we are ringing in the New Year with some New Age Cryptids! Some are classic-inspired cryptids, others more “fakelore”, as Kelsey will tell us where that term came from, and about some of the creepiest of the creepy-pasta creatures. Slenderman, also the AI-created cryptid, Momo, we rounded up the best Internet horror-shows in her segment! To cap off the piles of creeps, Alanna retaliates with the Ouija board demon, the connection to an ancient Babylonian wind demon, and...

Jan 03, 20251 hr 34 min

170: Doppelgänger Origins & Stories

Hey cryptic cuties, we have a much lighter ep this week! Revisiting something disscussed all the way back in our 1st ep about Death Omens, we have Doppelgängers. The idea of doublewalkers, evil twins, fetch, ka, or spirit doubles, has been around for centuries from all around the world. While some stories of their appearance seem to bring illness, bad luck or even death, others seem to be more benevolent. Kelsey shares some examples of historical figures who are said to have encountered their ow...

Dec 20, 20241 hr 47 min

169: Egypt Crimes

Hope this finds you well, and also before we begin: Massive Trigger Warning For Sexual Assault So, this week's focus is true crime in Egypt. Kelsey talks us through the murders of a complicated predator, Karim Salim. which is rough enough. Then, Alanna walks us through some hard truths about the safety of simply being women protesters in Egypt. Just fighting for their rights puts many women in danger of sexual harassment and assault. Can we fight the crowds of predators and win? We hope so. Plea...

Dec 13, 20242 hr 21 min
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