If your child comes you and tells you that Spirit Airlines is telling them stuff that only they can hear, call a doctor or licensed psychologist. If they tell you Spirit Halloween is telling them stuff, ask where the next location will be! But in all seriousness, this week Hannah is telling Katy the absolutely WILD story of the Children of Thunder, aka: Taylor Helzer and his two devoted followers that caused the horrific deaths of five people. We literally popped popcorn for this. It's got (theo...
Dec 14, 2022•1 hr 17 min•Ep. 141
In 12th century England, two green-skinned children mysteriously appeared appeared one day, speaking a strange language, and eating only beans. Were they fairies? Flemish orphans? Or something other worldly? This week, Hannah tells Katy about the green children of Woolpit. The girls discuss whether the story is fact or fiction, various theories to explain the green skin, and whether the Earth is hollow or not. Get what few details 12th century writers chose to include (spoiler: not many), and de...
Dec 07, 2022•46 min
In the early days of surgery, learning about anatomy was kind of a big deal. So having relatively fresh corpses to dissect was also a pretty big deal, which naturally led to *some* crime. This week, Hannah tells Katy about William Burke and William Hare, two men who figured out that they could make decent money by selling bodies to a doctor, and regular money by causing the bodies to be dead in the first place and then selling them (aka: they became serial killers and sold their victims' bodies ...
Nov 30, 2022•1 hr 43 min
Do you need a horrible story to break the tension with family this holiday season? How about a reason to break out the good whiskey (or coffee?) This might just be the episode for you! This week, Hannah tells Katy the story of the Snowtown murders, the infamous and horrific tale of John Bunting and his twisted, sadistic worldview that led to the deaths of at least 11 people. The girls talk about the circumstances that allowed this to take place, the unfortunate wrong time/wrong place that happen...
Nov 23, 2022•1 hr 35 min
Do you have a sweet tooth? It might be curbed after listening to this episode! This week, Hannah tells Katy the wild story of the Glico Morinaga exploitation case, when an anonymous criminal blackmailed, kidnapped, and poisoned Japan's biggest candy companies... and got away with it! From foxy-eyed men, to poor-planning ransom pick ups, and well-labeled poison, this case just gets weirder and weirder. So go to your local Asian market and grab some Pocky sticks and Hi Chews, and get ready for thi...
Nov 16, 2022•1 hr 5 min
Happy (belated) Halloween! This week, Hannah and Katy break out the hard liquor to talk about one of history's more gruesome spree killers: The Blackout Ripper. During the London blackouts of 1942, a killer hid in plain sight and viciously attacked five women in six days. Gordon Cummins killed at least three women (although he is suspected of two more), and used the cover of the darkness to help conceal his crimes. Just an all around asshole, that you will love to hate. Don't worry, this episode...
Nov 02, 2022•1 hr 22 min
It's Wednesday evening and you need to grab like two things from the store (and maybe a coffee or a cute candle) and you really don't want to deal with the Walmart crowd, so where do you go? Around here, it's a no brainer: Target. BUT before you head out the door, think twice about the relative safety of that glowing red oasis; or more specifically, of the parking lot. This week, Hannah dives deeeeeeep into her personal inbox for a chain email from 2009 warning of the dangers of Target parking l...
Oct 26, 2022•1 hr 20 min
In the early morning hours of September 11, 1979, Micki Jo West left her mom's house for work, and never came home. Over 40 years later, and several mysterious letters have shown up throughout Missouri and Kansas, claiming to know what happened. But Micki's family is no closer to closure now than they were in 1979. This week, Hannah tells Katy the story of the disappearance of Micki Jo West--a listener suggestion! Find out the deal with all the letters (poor grammar/punctuation and all), who kno...
Oct 19, 2022•1 hr 4 min
Who's that tall, blond, pale girl between the ages of 12 and 30, standing in the corner of the dance hall acting kind of gloomy and not talking to anyone? It could be Katy (although she'd likely be talking to you about any number of her current hyperfixations and/or her kid or dogs), or, if you're in Justice, IL, it could be the infamous specter, Resurrection Mary! This week, Hannah tells Katy about the ghostly gal that haunts the streets, cabs, and dancehalls of Justice, and her possible tragic...
Oct 12, 2022•1 hr 9 min
It wouldn't be Spooky Season without a classic horror movie like Psycho, Texas Chainsaw Massacre, or Silence of the Lambs . But what do all of these macabre movies have in common? This week, Hannah tells Katy about the man that inspired the villains from some of the best known movies in horror history: Eddie Gein. From living under the thumb of a violently religious mother, to a life of crippling loneliness and poor social skills, Eddie quietly descended into a hellish world of desperately tryin...
Oct 05, 2022•1 hr 40 min
Trick or treat, smell my feet, give me something good (and not poisoned) to eat! It's officially fall, which means it's time to start planning your costume, stocking up on candy, or mapping out your trick or treating route! And this week, in the spirit of the holidays, Hannah tells Katy about the pervasive Halloween myth that everyone seems to have heard in one form or another: that you'd better check your trick or treating candy before eating it, because bad people put razor blades, needles, po...
Sep 28, 2022•1 hr 40 min
It's a bird, it's a plane, it's a fireball that's later mistaken for an alien aircraft from the future! This week, Hannah tells Katy about the famed Rendlesham Forest incident of 1980, and the girls dive into an episode of giggles, tangents, and a much talk-about dossier. Did an alien aircraft actually touch down in the woods of Suffolk County that December night, or was it just deer screaming and wild hogs wallowing? Did radiation from a UFO cause a singular heart valve to fail 30 years later? ...
Sep 21, 2022•1 hr 33 min
On a blistering summer morning in Adelaide, Australia, Jane, Arnna, and Grant Beaumont said goodbye to their mother and boarded a bus for their local beach. They would never return home. This week, Hannah tells Katy about the heartbreaking mystery of what happened to the Beaumont children in January of 1966. The girls compare drunken police sketches, discuss possible theories, and size up the suspects. This one is grim and puzzling. So pour your drinks, brush up on the drinking game rules, and j...
Sep 14, 2022•1 hr 5 min
On the morning of April 4, 1922, a chilling scene met Albert Hofner as he approached a small farmstead on the outskirts of town for a scheduled appointment to repair some farm equipment. The yard and house were eerily still; the only sound came from the livestock contentedly grazing, or the small watchdog that was kept in the barn barking from time to time. The family would not come out to meet him. What he couldn’t know at the time was that just feet away from where he eventually began silently...
Sep 07, 2022•1 hr 13 min
In the countryside of 18th century Southern France, a mysterious beast wreaked havoc on innocent shepherds and helpless women who found themselves alone in the woods. The king intervened and sent his finest huntsmen, but to no avail, and the beast continued its reign of terror. This week, Hannah tells Katy about this elusive cryptic and what finally brought the horror to an end. The girls discuss the varied descriptions of the animal (including Hannah’s own creative interpretation), and what it ...
Aug 31, 2022•1 hr 18 min
Just four friends hanging out in the woods looking for bird eggs during WW2; and then they discovered a really big egg in the hollow of a tree. Except it wasn’t an egg. It’s never an egg. This week, Hannah tells Katy about the mystery of how a woman ended up in a wych elm in Worcestershire, England in the early 1940’s. There’s no baby murder (as promised) but that doesn’t mean you’re going to like the ending! Pour yourself a drink and feel free to take notes and give us your take on this unsolve...
Aug 24, 2022•1 hr
Welp. We accidentally did another baby murder episode and we are really sorry. This week, Hannah tells Katy the story of the Harpe brothers, AKA: America’s first serial killers, AKA: the worst people you’ve ever met. The girls talk about all the reasons to hate these two assholes (there are plenty), while Hannah tries to bribe her way back into Katy’s good graces with cookies and wine (it only kinda works). This one is full of senseless murders, easy-to-break-out-of jails, and pretty satisfying ...
Aug 17, 2022•1 hr 10 min
Come in, sit down, and have a glass of wine and some tea cakes! This week, Hannah tells Katy about Leonarda Ciannciulli, AKA: the Soap Maker of Coreggio. The girls talk about whether this month's episode theme is earthquakes or baby murders (sorry everyone), why you being called a spinster should be a term of endearment, and why you really shouldn't take the homemade soap your weird neighbor offers you. It's spooky and creepy and all kinds of gross! So pour those drinks and join us for this dark...
Aug 10, 2022•44 min
For some people, bad luck seems to haunt them. For the Whaley family, that couldn't be more true. This week, Hannah tells Katy about the infamous Whaley House in San Diego, CA, the various tragedies that took place there, and the spirits that linger to this day. Listen as the girls munch on cheese (Katy's forbidden food), chat about mental health, talk about why numbers are hard, and reminisce about childhood toys. Thank goodness, this one is lighter fare, so pour those drinks and settle in for ...
Aug 03, 2022•1 hr 8 min
It's a Tell We Tale, and the final installment of Katy's Creature Features! This week, Katy tells Hannah about the legend of the Yeth Hound in various cultures around the world. The girls find their happy place talking about doggos, and learn many valuable lessons such as, don't hurt dogs or you'll have a stroke, and, baptize your child or else they might turn into a headless dog ghost demon. This one is a much needed reprieve from some of the darker subjects covered recently, and we hope you en...
Jul 27, 2022•57 min
There’s no hiding behind our wine, chatty anecdotes, or “fun fact” tangents: this story is dark. This week, Hannah tells Katy about Mary Bell, the 10 year old girl who murdered two toddlers before being taken off the streets. There’s not really a way to sugarcoat the story, or make her crimes less awful, but the girls do manage to talk about successful prison systems, and gush over some unrelated Critter content. Pour your drinks, get your comfort animal (Stephen came off the wall for this one!)...
Jul 20, 2022•1 hr 11 min
Do you believe in reincarnation? This week, Hannah tells Katy the story of the Pollock sisters: two young girls who were tragically killed and allegedly reincarnated as their twin sisters. If it sounds confusing, it is. Listen to Hannah get all the names mixed up (they all start with “j” sounds!!) while Katy plays dutiful devil’s advocate. There’s lots of tangents, but the girls try their best to stay on track. It’s definitely an interesting case with no clear answers. So our your drinks, listen...
Jul 13, 2022•1 hr 31 min
An unsolved murder, O.J.’s future lawyer, peripheral relations to Nazis, and a short lived WWE career. This episode takes some wild turns! This week, Hannah tells Katy about the murder of Marilyn Reese Sheppard, and the events that followed as investigators tried to find her killer. It happened on the 4th of July, so it is technically holiday-themed. And it just gets weirder and weirder. Pour your drink of choice (lots of drinking game hits today!) and settle in for this week’s Unsolved Mystery!...
Jul 06, 2022•1 hr 21 min
Welcome back to Kirtland, OH. We never left! This week, Hannah tells Katy more of this small town’s history and one delusional, evil man who preyed on a small group of people and exploited their fears and religious beliefs, leaving five dead when it was all said and done. Find out how to narrowly interpret religious texts using one very specific rule and then how to forget that interpretation when it no longer serves your needs and you want to justify murder. Also, stay tuned till the end to hea...
Jun 29, 2022•1 hr 12 min
Back country boos, and Critter coos. This week, Hannah, Katy, and Critter go to Kirtland, OH to find out about the legend of the much feared Melon Heads. Are they cryptids, aliens, or some combination of both? Or are they just stories born from the real-life tragedies of abused children with congenital anomalies? Critter is back and just as cute as a button, and this episode is a welcome reprieve from some of the heavier topics we’ve covered recently. Pour your drinks, and let us know what you t...
Jun 22, 2022•54 min
Four men, one missing knife, lots of terry cloth robes, and $1.2 million dollar home in Washington, DC. What happened on the night of August 2, 2006 that left Robert Wone--a man known for his kindness--dead, and SO many questions unanswered? This week, Hannah tells Katy about this unsolved mystery that makes absolutely no sense. Who killed Robert Wone? Why? And what do the residents of 1509 Swan Street, NW know that they're not telling police? This one is full of unresolved questions and leads t...
Jun 15, 2022•1 hr 6 min
Feuding Irish clans, hidden dungeons, and scorned women... all make for what some consider to be the world's most haunted castle! This week, Hannah tells Katy (and Critter) about Leap Castle, its bloody history, and the spirits (human and otherwise) that haunt it today. It's Critter's first regular season episode, and he has a lot of opinions about things. So pour your drinks, and settle in for this classic spooky story! Sources: https://www.irelandbeforeyoudie.com/leap-castle-history-and-info-a...
Jun 08, 2022•48 min
In 1978, five young men went to a basketball game a few towns over from their own, and never returned home. Months later, the emaciated and frozen remains of four of them were found scattered in the woods some 50 miles from the route they would have been driving. The whereabouts of the fifth man (Gary Mathias) remains unknown, as do the “how" and “why" of his friends’ fate. This week, Hannah tells Katy the story of the Yuba County Five, an unsolved mystery that still haunts those involved to thi...
Jun 01, 2022•1 hr 10 min
Surprise! In this special bonus episode, Hannah and Katy talk candidly about their experiences living with mental disorders. And Critter makes his first podcast appearance! We hope our listeners will find comfort and/or familiarity here if needed, and know that you are not alone in your journey. If you are struggling and need someone to talk to, or to listen, please reach out to us in our DM’s. We love you all, and we’ll get through this together. Support the show Follow us @thetaleswetellpodcas...
May 31, 2022•1 hr 5 min
Cancel all your immediate travel plans and make arrangements to get through life without ever getting on a plane again. This week, the Hannah tells Katy about the unsolved disappearance of Malaysian Airlines Flight 370. The girls touch on some of the wilder conspiracy theories, briefly try to explain/understand radar, and talk about another wildly terrifying plane crash, and why checklists are important. Katy still claims she'll get on a plane again, while Hannah has decided if she can't drive t...
May 25, 2022•1 hr 14 min
