It’s a new year and a CHONKY urban legends episode is waiting for you. Featuring a long-time bathroom haunting, the cosplay to spouse pipeline, and how sometimes retail jobs are scarier than the monster under the bed! Content Warning: This episode contains conversations about or mentions of child endangerment, abusive relationships, kidnapping, and illness. Housekeeping - Books: Check out our previous book recommendations, guests’ books, and more at spiritspodcast.com/books - Call to Action: Sen...
Jan 21, 2026•57 min•Ep. 474
If you’ve ever wondered how myths were made, especially during the Medieval period, we’ve got you covered! We’re joined by Professor Matthew Gabriele, host of American Medieval, to talk about Medieval mythmaking, Castlecore vs Crusadecore, and Romantasy as a way of reflecting on the Medieval period! Content Warning: This episode contains conversations about or mentions of fascism, white supremacy, islamaphobia, misogyny, death, sex, and genitals. Guest Matthew Gabriele is a professor of medieval...
Jan 14, 2026•54 min•Ep. 473
We’re starting off the new year with more CULTS. We dig into some local history to talk about Frank Sandford and The Holy Ghost and Us Society - a story of religious fanaticism, lawsuits, and a shocking amount of drama surrounding boats. Content Warning: This episode contains conversations about or mentions of child abuse, child death, illness, racism, death, mental illness, antisemitism, ableism, drowning, starvation, and imprisonment. Housekeeping - Books: Check out our previous book recommend...
Jan 07, 2026•54 min•Ep. 472
It’s the end of the year, so let’s make some resolutions - to turn the world upside down! So we’re taking inspiration from the Medieval festival known as the Feast of Fools. We talk about its origins, how it was celebrated, and why we should absolutely bring it back. Content Warning: This episode contains conversations about or mentions of enslavement, sexuality, queerphobia, religious persecution, and racism. Housekeeping - Books: Check out our previous book recommendations, guests’ books, and ...
Dec 31, 2025•46 min•Ep. 471
We should be telling more ghost stories in the winter time. That’s why we’re coming to you with a whole new urban legends episode, featuring mischievous ghost children, haunted dorms with a mysterious pull, and a grandpa ghost that has GOT to stop acting so creepy! Content Warning: This episode contains conversations about or mentions of implied abusive relationships, hallucinations/unreality, child death, family member death, suicide, accidental death, and murder. Housekeeping - Books: Check ou...
Dec 24, 2025•50 min•Ep. 470
Appalachia is a hotbed of spooky things - ghost stories, UFO sightings, well known cryptids. But what is it about this region that makes it so mysterious? We’re joined by Chuck Corra of the Appodlachia podcast to discuss what it is that makes us so fascinated with Appalachia! Content Warning: This episode contains conversations about or mentions of slavery, indentured servitude, gun violence, death, racism, homophobia, violence, discrimination, Guest Chuck Corra is the host of Appolachia , a pro...
Dec 17, 2025•51 min•Ep. 469
Ah, Christmastime - presents, feasting, and… little goblins?! We explore this Greek folktale of the Kallikantzaroi, mischievous goblins that come to earth during the 12 Days of Christmas to cause shenanigans. Could your holidays be a little more naughty? We think they could! Content Warning: This episode contains conversations about or mentions of sexual content, genitalia, religious persecution, urination, violence, death, child endangerment, childbirth, animal death, and depression. Housekeepi...
Dec 10, 2025•46 min•Ep. 468
Do you feel the cold weather nipping at your nose? What’s up with that? Is it Jack Frost, like a lot of the stories and songs say? Or is it another embodiment of winter, like Frau Hole, Boreas, or Morozko? You’ll have to bundle up in your coziest blanket and listen to this episode to find out! Content Warning: This episode contains conversations about or mentions of death, car accidents, war, child endangerment, child death, gore, abusive familial relationships, blood and kidnapping. Housekeepin...
Dec 03, 2025•58 min•Ep. 467
There’s something about hearing a ghost story told aloud that makes it 1000x scarier! That’s why this episode definitely has us scared! From haunted schools to haunted bedrooms (both in the past and the present!), we’re glad none of our listeners got GOT by ghosts! Content Warning: This episode contains conversations about or mentions of fire, death, child death, hospitalization, illness, sexual content, insects, and car accidents. Housekeeping - Books: Check out our previous book recommendation...
Nov 26, 2025•47 min•Ep. 466
Sometimes the most ‘mundane’ horror is the scariest, as we learn from author Grace Daly. She joins us to talk about the intersection of medical horror, comedy, and Irish folklore, as well as provides some great context for the Midwestern desire to be a part of Team Ignorant! Content Warning: This episode contains conversations about or mentions of ableism, death, disability, medical discrimination, gore, dismemberment, natural disasters, nuclear bombing, colonialism, and religious trauma. Guest ...
Nov 19, 2025•47 min•Ep. 465
Where did the Dark Academia aesthetic come from with it’s Gothic architecture and dark libraries? What if we told you there is a school, straight from Transylvanian folklore, that might have spawned the whole idea? And that Dracula himself went there?? Content Warning: This episode contains conversations about or mentions of child endangerment, and imperialism. Housekeeping - Books: Check out our previous book recommendations, guests’ books, and more at spiritspodcast.com/books - Call to Action:...
Nov 12, 2025•47 min•Ep. 464
Do you see that floating light just off in the distance in the dark woods? It has many names - the jack-o-lantern, the Min Min lights, the Naga Fireballs, but it’s perhaps best known as the will-o-the-wisp: a mysterious, sometimes malevolent, sometimes benevolent spirit that can be found around the world! Content Warning: This episode contains conversations about or mentions of death, drowning, child death, animal death, abusive relationships, colonization, decapitation, and train accidents. Hou...
Nov 05, 2025•51 min•Ep. 463
Since it’s the week of Halloween, we’re breaking out a DOUBLE FEATURE URBAN LEGENDS EPISODE. There’s hauntings. There’s watery footprints. There’s a mysterious pit. Plus, it ends up being a haunted smells-centered episode, much to Amanda’s delight/fear. Content Warning: This episode contains conversations about or mentions of death, racism, drowning, abusive relationships, insects, child endangerment/death, murder, gun violence, family member death, and animal endangerment. Housekeeping - Books:...
Oct 29, 2025•1 hr 25 min•Ep. 462
We welcome back past and future guest Lauren Shippen to talk about her newest shows, her childhood experiences being haunted, and how both real and fictional demons have shaped her work. Then, Lauren turns the tables on US for a conversation about creativity, the supernatural, and finding hope in a creative world. Content Warning: This episode contains conversations about or mentions of death, murder, homophobia, racism, white supremacy, colonization, and possession. Guest Lauren Shippen is an a...
Oct 22, 2025•1 hr 8 min•Ep. 461
You know the story: A couple at makeout point hears some strange noises, drives home, discovers a bloody hook on their car door. But where did this story come from? And why do we keep telling it? This episode, we even dredge into true crime territory to reveal some of the potential origins of this infamous urban legend. Content Warning: This episode contains conversations about or mentions of death, gore, sexual content, assault, murder, ableism, misogyny, violence, hanging, blood, law enforceme...
Oct 15, 2025•47 min•Ep. 460
Hot girl summer is over, it’s girl with the green ribbon autumn. If you were scarred by this story when you were a kid, you’re going to love this episode where we dig into the history of beheadings, hangings, and Washington Irving’s kink, which led to a tale that we have told over and over again. Content Warning: This episode contains conversations about or mentions of death, illness, execution, beheading, hanging, sexual content, necrophilia, war, animal death, murder, violence against women, a...
Oct 08, 2025•44 min•Ep. 459
We’re starting off spooky season strong with an urban legends episode and a fantastic guest! Julia goes down the rabbit hole of geocaching. Amanda’s urban legend is people who want to kiss at parties. Mayanna has no theories, only questions. Content Warning: This episode contains conversations about or mentions of death, drowning, sexual content, kidnapping, murder, pregnancy, gun violence, child death, bodily functions, and animal death. Guest Mayanna Berrin is a writer for animation and games,...
Oct 01, 2025•53 min•Ep. 458
Isabel Cañas is BACK and here to talk about her new book, The Possession of Alba Díaz . Join us as we talk about the intersection of demonic possession and bodily autonomy, writing capital-R Romance novels, and how Isabel used her historian background to create an immersive Gothic novel. Content Warning: This episode contains conversations about or mentions of death, possession, racism, mental illness, poisoning, colonialism, religious persecution, misogyny, sexual assault, and sexual content. G...
Sep 24, 2025•55 min•Ep. 457
We told you the stories of Merlin but where did he come from anyway? From Myrddin, to Lailoken, to the warrior poet Ambrosius Aurelianus, we discuss all of the different versions of Merlin before he was Merlin! And as a bonus, we chat about WHO Merlin was after his origins! Content Warning: This episode contains conversations about or mentions of death, warfare, mental illness, religious persecution, impalement, drowning, and child endangerment. Housekeeping - Books: Check out our previous book ...
Sep 17, 2025•55 min•Ep. 456
What does the film industry, Louisa May Alcott, and King Tut have in common? Mummy’s curses! We dig into the history of the Curse of the Pharaohs, how they are viewed in the west, and how Tutmania changed Egyptology and the world. Content Warning: This episode contains conversations about or mentions of death, illness, racism, desecration of bodies, slavery, forced labor, grave-robbing, sexual assault, and animal death. Housekeeping - Books: Check out our previous book recommendations, guests’ b...
Sep 10, 2025•52 min•Ep. 455
Julia’s out on vacation, but to get you prepped for spooky season, please enjoy these ghost stories from all across NYC from our friends over at The Bowery Boys ! Fun fact! Every single one of these ghost stories was sourced from actual newspaper and magazine reporting from their respective eras! Housekeeping - Books: Check out our previous book recommendations, guests’ books, and more at spiritspodcast.com/books - Call to Action: Get our new Old Wives’ Tale Teller Corduroy Hat ! - Submit Your U...
Sep 03, 2025•1 hr 28 min
Is a year of random ghostly screaming too much? We think it is! We also discuss trying to revisit the fae portals of our youth, owl mother-in-laws, and the bartender’s mouthwash. Content Warning: This episode contains conversations about or mentions of death, home invasion, police activity, child endangerment, cancer, medical procedures, and carbon monoxide leaks. Housekeeping - Books: Check out our previous book recommendations, guests’ books, and more at spiritspodcast.com/books - Call to Acti...
Aug 27, 2025•46 min•Ep. 454
Sometimes we have a guest who just does not want to be scared! That’s why we’re breaking out some incredible yet wholesome hometown urban legends to share with friend of the pod, Ronald Young Jr. Featuring kindergarten paleontologists, bottomless lakes of fire, and how to make pirates even scarier! Content Warning: This episode contains conversations about or mentions of animal death, war, and teeth. Guest Ronald Young Jr. is an audio producer, storyteller and host based in Alexandria, VA. He cr...
Aug 20, 2025•52 min•Ep. 453
You’ve heard his name before: Merlin. Not the first wizard, but the most important wizard! We’re taking a crack at Arthurian legend, digging into how the prototypical wizard shaped the stories, including his demonic birth, his terrible romances, and his role as Arthur’s Wizard Daddy. Content Warning: This episode contains conversations about or mentions of colonialism, warfare, child endangerment/sacrifice, bestiality, death, poor working conditions, sexual assault/harrasment, incest, and sexual...
Aug 13, 2025•51 min•Ep. 452
House spirits have been living in our heads (and our hearths) rent free lately! From Central America to Korea and across Europe, spirits like domovoi, brownies, duende, and more have been playing a role in home folklore. So pull up a chair by the hearth and we’ll tell you their tales! Content Warning: This episode contains conversations about or mentions of animal death, blood, strangulation, transphobia, colonization, child endangerment, and defecation. Housekeeping - Books: Check out our previ...
Aug 06, 2025•52 min•Ep. 451
Have you been dreaming about a new urban legend episode? Maybe your dreams are a little bit prophetic! We dig into some sweet and also terrifying prophetic dreams, creepy child ghosts, and why we trust night nurses over any other profession to combat the supernatural. Content Warning: This episode contains conversations about or mentions of illness, war, institutionalization, sex, death, dementia, and child endangerment. Housekeeping - Books: Check out our previous book recommendations, guests’ ...
Jul 30, 2025•44 min•Ep. 450
Shuffle through your Tarot deck as we’re joined by author and artist Charlie Claire Burgess who talks about their work around tarot and the intersection of spirituality and queerness. We talk about witchy awakenings courtesy of the CW network, getting rid of the binary in tarot readings, and so much more! Content Warning: This episode contains conversations about or mentions of queerphobia, abusive relationships, theft, misogyny, white supremacists, patriarchy, colonization, and the apocalypse. ...
Jul 23, 2025•50 min•Ep. 449
We’ve talked about so many American cryptids on the show, but have you heard about the Flatwoods Monster of West Virginia? Settle around the camp fire as we tell a tale of UFO crash landings, Men in Black, and government conspiracy in small town America. Content Warning: This episode contains conversations about or mentions of vomiting, child endangerment, atomic warfare, government/military intervention, and bridge collapses. Housekeeping - Books: Check out our previous book recommendations, gu...
Jul 16, 2025•49 min•Ep. 448
Hear no evil, see no evil, speak no evil. You might have heard this phrase before (or at least seen the cute little monkey emojis on your phone), but do you know where it comes from? 🙉 🙈 🙊 We do a deep dive into the philosophical and religious origins of the Three Wise Monkeys! Content Warning: This episode contains conversations about or mentions of sexual content and atomic warfare. Housekeeping - Books: Check out our previous book recommendations, guests’ books, and more at spiritspodcast....
Jul 09, 2025•45 min•Ep. 447
Some kids are gay. Some kids are obsessed with death. Some kids are gay AND obsessed with death. And we love that for them! Also featuring astral projecting to family functions and helping your family break the cycle of buying haunted houses. Content Warning: This episode contains conversations about or mentions of defecation, drug use, death, misogyny, and violence. Housekeeping - Books: Check out our previous book recommendations, guests’ books, and more at spiritspodcast.com/books - Call to A...
Jul 02, 2025•50 min•Ep. 446
