What secrets is the Keyhole House still holding on to? And what happens when a house decides it wants to be heard? Every old home has its tales. This one refuses to stop sharing them. In this special episode, we travel to Smiths Falls, Ontario, to explore the haunting of the Keyhole House —a striking 1892 Victorian home with a history that won’t stay in the past. Since moving in, magicians Ted and Marion Outerbridge have experienced an ongoing series of eerie phenomena: discovering objects long ...
Jun 27, 2025•56 min•Ep. 204
Clowns are meant to bring joy. So why do they inspire so much fear? In this episode, we peek behind the greasepaint to explore the origins of coulrophobia , the fear of clowns, and how these strange figures evolved from ancient jesters and rule-breaking pranksters into the painted performers we know today. We uncover deep historical roots, unsettling psychology, and the tragic story of the first modern clown. From royal courts to modern horror films, from cheerful birthday parties to eerie sight...
May 30, 2025•46 min•Ep. 203
When strange lights appear in the sky, we are left wondering what they are. But when those encounters become personal, when people claim they have been taken, studied, or changed, the questions grow darker. In this episode, we continue our journey into the world of UAPs and the paranormal, exploring the stories that disturb us most. From the famous case of Betty and Barney Hill to chilling reports of livestock mutilation, mass sightings like the Phoenix Lights , and the secrecy surrounding Roswe...
Apr 25, 2025•49 min•Ep. 202
Lights in the sky. Thousands of witnesses. Still no answers. In this episode of Haunted Talks , we explore one of those simple-sounding but incredibly complex questions: What counts as evidence? Using the dramatic December 2024 sightings over New Jersey as a starting point, we investigate how UAP encounters are reported, investigated, and often dismissed. From schoolyard landings and military accounts to fleeting videos and solitary experiences, we examine the fragile boundary between what is wi...
Apr 11, 2025•44 min•Ep. 201
Secrets, Surprises & Spooky Celebrations 🎉 10 years of terrifying ghost stories, baffling mysteries, and dark history. To mark this haunted milestone, host Jim Dean is joined by Brittney Bos (researcher and writer) and Michelle Dennis (audio editor) for an unforgettable behind-the-scenes journey through a decade of Haunted Talks . From stories that never made it to air to mysteries we may have helped solve, this episode pulls back the curtain on the strange, surprising, and sometimes hilari...
Mar 28, 2025•1 hr 7 min•Ep. 200
Are your nightmares trying to tell you something? Most dreams fade the moment we wake up. But some? They cling to us—leaving behind a sense of dread, mystery, or even a chilling certainty that they meant something more . In this episode of Haunted Talks, we descend into the unsettling world of dreams —where sleep paralysis feels like a haunting, prophetic visions glimpse the future, and shared nightmares suggest we may not be dreaming alone. We’ll unravel real-life stories of eerie dreams, ghost...
Mar 14, 2025•43 min•Ep. 199
“Do YOU know a haunted house?” That’s the question The Toronto Star Weekly asked its readers over 100 years ago , and the answers they received were truly chilling. In this episode, we share these real ghost stories from 1924 , as told by those who lived them. These chilling encounters, first published a century ago , feel startlingly familiar —shadowy figures, objects moving on their own, ghostly apparitions, and even premonitions of death. Are these just spooky tales from the past, or do the g...
Feb 28, 2025•30 min•Ep. 198
For decades, séances, spirit communication, and ghostly encounters weren’t just tabloid curiosities—they shaped Canada’s history. In this final installment of our two-part series, we explore the profound impact of spiritualism on the country’s literary icons, scientific minds, and political leaders. From Sir Arthur Conan Doyle , the creator of Sherlock Holmes , who risked his reputation to prove the existence of spirits, to Lucy Maud Montgomery , who quietly attended séances while writing Anne o...
Feb 14, 2025•41 min•Ep. 197
In the early 20th century, Canada was swept up in a wave of Spiritualism, where séances promised answers, and the line between faith, fraud, and fear blurred. In this two-part series, we explore how Spiritualism became more than a curiosity— it divided families, enchanted elites, and outraged religious leaders . From fiery sermons and public scandals to exclusive séances held in the lavish parlours of the wealthy and powerful, discover how this controversial movement captured the nation’s imagin...
Jan 31, 2025•36 min•Ep. 196
On Christmas Eve 1945, a fire destroyed the Sodder family home, l eaving behind a mystery that has haunted true crime enthusiasts for decades. Five children vanished without a trace—no bodies, no bones, no answers. Was it a tragic accident? A kidnapping? Or something even darker? Strange events before and after the fire —a chilling phone call, cut telephone lines, and a cryptic photo received decades later—have fueled endless speculation. In this episode, we dig into the baffling details, explor...
Dec 20, 2024•42 min•Ep. 195
In this conclusion to the story of the Edmund Fitzgerald, we return to the icy waters of Lake Superior to explore the theories and lingering mysteries surrounding its tragic sinking. Without a distress signal or survivors, the ship’s disappearance left behind a haunting legacy of unanswered questions. Was it the crushing force of rogue waves, a structural failure, or a perilous encounter with the shallow waters of Six Fathom Shoal that brought down the mighty freighter? Guided by Gordon Lightfoo...
Dec 06, 2024•32 min•Ep. 194
Gordon Lightfoot’s haunting ballad, The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald , is more than a song—it’s a legend. Through vivid storytelling, Lightfoot immortalizes the tragic sinking of the massive freighter and its crew during a relentless November storm on Lake Superior. Nearly 50 years later, the mystery of what truly happened still lingers, while the song continues to captivate listeners with its chilling narrative and emotional depth. In this episode, we use Lightfoot’s ballad as our guide to ex...
Nov 22, 2024•40 min•Ep. 193
This Halloween, Haunted Talks invites you inside one of the most haunted houses in America—the Whaley House in San Diego . Built on former execution grounds in 1857, the Whaley House has been the site of chilling tragedies, from the untimely deaths within the Whaley family to eerie encounters with spirits like ‘Yankee Jim,’ a condemned man whose execution was witnessed by Thomas Whaley himself. In this special episode, we join Victor Santana, Operations & Property Manager of the Whaley House...
Oct 31, 2024•37 min•Ep. 192
Every Halloween, a familiar warning resurfaces—beware of tampered treats from strangers. But where did this chilling urban legend come from, and is there any truth behind the tales of poisoned candy, razor blades in apples, or needles in chocolate bars? Think you know the facts? You might be in for a surprise. In this episode, we trace the myth’s eerie origins—from Victorian-era fears to the unsettling story of the “Candyman” in Texas. Join us as we separate fact from fiction and reveal why this...
Oct 25, 2024•38 min•Ep. 191
As Halloween draws near, we turn our attention to one of America’s most chilling and enduring supernatural legends: The Bell Witch . Two centuries ago, a quiet farm in Tennessee became the stage for a haunting that captivated the nation. The Bell family faced relentless attacks from an unseen force that seemed to take a special interest in John Bell Sr. and his daughter Betsy. From eerie whispers to violent physical assaults, and even the involvement of future president Andrew Jackson, the story...
Oct 18, 2024•31 min•Ep. 190
The piercing scream of a train’s whistle in the dead of night feels like a ghost—it slips through the darkness, unseen, yet you can sense its approach, creeping ever closer. In this episode, we explore the spine-chilling world of ghost trains—phantom locomotives that travel forgotten tracks, leaving behind a trail of fear and mystery. From the lingering presence of Abraham Lincoln’s funeral train still haunting America’s railways, to the chilling urban legends surrounding Sweden’s Silver Arrow ,...
Oct 11, 2024•42 min•Ep. 189
In the late summer of 1944, the small town of Mattoon, Illinois, became the epicentre of one of the most bizarre mysteries in American history. Residents reported a series of gas attacks—phantom prowlers using strange fumes that caused paralysis, illness, and widespread panic. Dubbed the "Mad Gasser of Mattoon," the story gripped the town for two weeks, with chilling eyewitness accounts and physical evidence fueling the fear. Then, just as quickly as it began, the attacks stopped, leaving more q...
Oct 04, 2024•43 min•Ep. 188
After a long hiatus, Haunted Talks returns, diving deeper than ever into the mysterious and unexplained! In this special episode, we unveil exciting new adventures—from spine-tingling nights at the Royal Ontario Museum to eerie ghost tours aboard a haunted ship. But that’s just the beginning. We also explore a mystery that has left historians puzzled for centuries: a groundbreaking discovery about the origins of Stonehenge’s altar stone. Could this massive six-tonne slab have travelled nearly 50...
Sep 27, 2024•15 min•Ep. 187
We share our conversation with paranormal podcasting legend Jim Harold . With nearly 20 years in the field and over 65 million downloads, he’s an important voice for fans of the supernatural. We discuss his journey from radio to full-time podcasting, the beginnings of his shows, The Paranormal Podcast and Jim Harold’s Campfire , and his favourite story, “ The Mysterious Mrs. Raspberry ,” from his new book, True Ghost Stories: Jim Harold’s Campfire Volume 6 . (Listen to the episode to learn how t...
May 31, 2024•40 min•Ep. 186
In part two of our series on Dark Folklore , we descend deeper into the shadows to explore the legendary creatures that haunt our nightmares. This spine-tingling episode examines terrifying entities such as the Jersey Devil , the blood-sucking Chupacabra , and the Mare and Alp—creatures said to cause sleep paralysis and unending nightmares. As we journey through seven countries and their scariest folklore, you’ll discover different cultural explanations for these chilling phenomena. Prepare to q...
May 17, 2024•36 min•Ep. 185
We journey into the shadowy realms of freaky folklore, uncovering the spine-chilling tales of mythical creatures that have haunted human imagination across cultures and continents. We reveal stories of beings that lurk in the dark, from the infamous Mothman of West Virginia to the eerie cries of Ireland’s Banshee , each a harbinger of doom and a staple of local lore. These tales blend reality with fantasy, where mythical creatures not only foretell death but sometimes take matters into their own...
May 03, 2024•35 min•Ep. 184
In our last episode , we invited you to join us in a chilling experiment during the recent total eclipse—and you didn’t disappoint. After compiling all the data our team members provided, we are poised to unveil results that are not only unexpected but also mystifying, sparking more questions than they answer. The Estes sessions—where we use audio equipment to potentially communicate with other realms—were conducted simultaneously in Toronto and just south of Ottawa, veering into areas both stra...
Apr 19, 2024•1 hr 6 min•Ep. 183
Today is the big day and we would love for you to join our eclipse group experiment! To get information on the experiments, and to submit your results, go to: https://hauntedwalk.com/eclipse/
Apr 08, 2024•2 min•Ep. 182
Step into the eerie shadows of a total solar eclipse with us and explore the mysterious connection between this celestial event and the supernatural. As the moon covers the sun, casting a rare darkness across North America, we dive into ancient myths, cultural beliefs, and the intriguing possibility of paranormal phenomena. This episode isn’t just for listening—we’re inviting you to join in on a simple, yet captivating group experiment. Share your findings during this once-in-a-lifetime adventur...
Apr 05, 2024•23 min
In a recent episode of the ' Geist ' podcast, we shared chilling experiences that our storytellers encountered while guiding tours through the eerie corridors of the old Ottawa Jail. Notorious as one of North America's most haunted locales, this site emanates a foreboding air, attributed to its grim history of executions, the harshness of its living conditions, and its imposing stone walls and barred windows. The building's unique blend of history, architecture, and ghostly tales makes it a capt...
Mar 22, 2024•24 min•Ep. 181
Step into the shadows with us as we venture into Houska Castle , nestled deep in the Czech Republic’s enchanting countryside. This isn’t just any old castle—it’s built over what’s rumoured to be a gateway to hell itself. But that’s just the beginning. Houska’s ancient walls also house ghostly tales and unexplained phenomena that have intrigued visitors for centuries. In this episode, we delve into the castle’s fascinating history, from its unusual construction possibly aimed at containing dark f...
Mar 08, 2024•21 min•Ep. 180
We explore the Saint Valentine's Day Massacre, one of America's great unsolved mysteries, unveiling the depths of a brutal power struggle that culminated in a shocking act of gangland violence. Dive into the shadowy world of Jazz Age Chicago in this episode, where vibrant jazz and the illicit flow of liquor set the backdrop for a deadly rivalry between Al Capone and George 'Bugs' Moran . It is a tale of ambition, revenge, and the quest for control over Chicago's underworld. Apply now to become a...
Feb 16, 2024•20 min•Ep. 179
On February 4th, 1880, Canada’s most notorious family, The Black Donnellys, were massacred in their home by a vigilante group of their neighbours. To mark the 144th anniversary, we take you inside the Donnelly legend. What happened on that fateful night? Were the Donnellys ‘evil’ or convenient scapegoats? Do their restless spirits still linger at the place where they met such a violent end? Listener Advisory: This episode does contain descriptions of significant violence. As mentioned in the sho...
Feb 09, 2024•44 min•Ep. 178
Our guest, Kim Dennis , is a gifted medium from Calgary, whose remarkable abilities have resonated with individuals seeking spiritual guidance and captivated audiences across the nation. Known for her appearances on radio and television, as well as her regular contributions to Jann Arden’s popular podcast, Kim’s journey into mediumship is one of personal discovery and spiritual enlightenment, making her a source of comfort and clarity for many. This remarkable conversation with Kim opens up how ...
Jan 19, 2024•47 min•Ep. 177
We make a holiday classic creepy! ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas, originally known as ‘A Visit from St. Nicholas,’ was first published in 1823 in the Troy, New York, Sentinel. While it is well-known for shaping the modern image of Santa Claus, what’s lesser-known — and equally intriguing — is the mystery-shrouded controversy over who truly authored this iconic work. In the episode, we share the story and our special spooky version of the tale – which is not recommended for children or easily f...
Dec 22, 2023•14 min•Ep. 176
