Forget everything you think you know about rainbows! (Unless you’re a meteorologist or something) Amanda channels her inner oracle as we discuss rainbow serpents, rainbows and weapons, and the pot of gold that’s found at the end of rainbows!    Content Warning: <span sty

Sometimes you buy a haunted painting and have to tell your friends. And sometimes you have to tell your guest a bunch of haunted theatre stories once they get back from tour. Thankfully we have writer and podcaster Jeffrey Cranor on to discuss all of those things!   Content Warning:

Once upon a midnight dreary, we recorded an episode about ravens! There’s so many stories featuring ravens from across the world, from the raven’s feast to creating the world and everything in between.   Content Warning: <span style= "font-size: 10pt; font-family: V

There’s monsters that our parents warned us about, mostly because if they just told us to do something, we wouldn’t listen: Boogeymen! We go through some of the original boogeymen, where they came from, and how they’ve transformed over the years. And don’t worry, we make up some original boogeymen that you can pass down to future generations!   Content Warning: This episode contains conversations about or mentions of injury, death, child death, child endangerment, drowning, animal attacks, teeth, cannibalism, kidnapping, animal death, bugs, body horror, and human trafficking.   <s

Did you know that Shakespeare was really into astrology? We sure didn’t, which is why we’re joined by Kelly Downes, who gives us a great discussion to bookend our Supernatural Shakespeare series!    Content Warning: <span style= "font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdan

October might be newly over, but we’re keeping the spooky vibes going by talking about black cats! We talk about cat worship, how cats went from lucky to unlucky, and how Pope Gregory and some guy named Conrad are to blame!    Content Warning: <span style= "font-siz

Halloween is just around the corner, so naturally it’s time to hear some urban legends! We demand more answers, we respect the survival instincts of Australian teens, and we talk about the worst things to hear a sleep-talker say.   Content Warning: <span style= "fon

Traveling bards, days of performances, and a 10 year war - we’re talking about Homer and The Iliad with scholar and podcaster, Lexie Henning!    Content Warning: This episode contains conversations about or mentions of warfare, death, enslavement, drowning, and plague/disease.    Guest Lexie Henning is the Programs & Administration Coordinator for the Pourdavoud Center for the Study of the Iranian World. Her research interests include Classical reception in media, nationalism studies, and cultural heritage in political conflict. In 2020, she co-founded The Ozymandias Project, a humanities focused non-profit

Alas, poor Hamlet! We haven’t talked about him yet, Horatio. We’re getting close to wrapping up our Supernatural Shakespeare series, but of course we have to talk about Horatio, ghosts, “madness”, and grief with Hamlet.   Content Warning: This episode contains conversations about or mentions of death, suicide, murder, psychosis and ‘madness’, grief, and poisoning.    Housekeeping - Recommendation: This week, Amanda recommends taking a bath. Ideally with one of our new BATH BOMBS - Books: Check out our previous book recommendations, guests’ books, and more at <a h

There’s a lot of haunted houses in this one, so it’s perfect to start October off! Board games with ghosts, the most haunted episode of Gordon Ramsey’s TV show, and a McDonald’s Play Place that is not what it seems!   Content Warning: This episode contains conversations about or mentions of death, violence, assault, break-ins, famine, mental illness, and child death.    Housekeeping - Recommendation: This week, Julia recommends spooky movie nights with friends! - Books: Check out our previous book recommendations, guests’ books, and more at spiritspodcast.com/books<

Author Isabel Cañas is back to talk about her newest book, Vampires of El Norte! We chat about Mexican vampires and boogeymen, historical romance, and drawing inspiration from her family’s history.   Content Warning: This episode contains conversations about or mentions of illness, death, forced marriage, religious persecution, colonialism, and pregnancy.    Guest Isabel Cañas is a Mexican-American speculative fiction writer. After having lived in Mexico, Scotland, Egypt, Turkey, and New York City, among other places, she has settled in the Pacific Northwest. She holds a doctorate in Near Eastern Languages and Civilizations and writes fiction inspired by her research and her heritage. She is the author

Macbeth is chock full of superstitions, prophecies, witches, and omens. So what better play to talk about for our Supernatural Shakespeare episodes? We talk about our own experiences backstage, the origin of the Weird Sisters, and so much more!   Content Warning: This episode contains conversations about or mentions of death, blood, murder, child death, suicide, incest, death during birth, battles, beheading, and riots.   Housekeeping - Recommendation: This week, Julia recommends In the Lives of Puppets by TJ Klune. - Books: Check out our previo

We’ve got goosebumps, which is the perfect way to start off the spooky season! We’ve got haunted libraries, a really scary visitor to a house, and a competition for whose house is most haunted.   Content Warning: This episode contains conversations about or mentions of home invasion, demonic possession, death, explosions, illness, and murder.     Housekeeping - Recommendation: This week, Amanda recommends community gardens, especially McCarren Demo Garden! - Books: Check out our previous book recommendations, guests’ books, and more at <a href=

We’re joined by the editors of Never Whistle at Night: An Indigenous Dark Fiction Anthology, Shane Hawk and Theodore C. Van Alst. They talk about finding community online, what makes Native stories post-apocalyptic, and the expectation of writing horror.   You can pre-order Never Whistle at Night now!   Content Warning: This episode contains conversations about or mentions of possession, colonialism, racism, gore, and tokenism.    Guests Shane Hawk (enrolled Cheyenne-Arapaho, Hidatsa and Potawatomi descent) is a history teacher by day and a horror writer by

This is the end - or is it the beginning? - of It’s Norse, Of Course. We break down the events of Ragnarok, the fall of the realms, rivers of drool, and the worst nap ever! It’s a cycle, gang!   Content Warning: This episode contains conversations about or mentions of violence, animal attacks, death, and apocalypse.    Housekeeping - Recommendation: This week, Julia recommends audiobooks from your local library! - Books: Check out our previous book recommendations, guests’ books, and more at spiritspodcast.com/books -</s

Music, storms, marriages and murders. Also… Shrek? We’re talking about the magic of Shakespeare’s The Tempest. We talk about the gender feelings we have about Ariel, the cinnamon roll of Miranda, and letting Caliban say the f-word.   Content Warning: This episode contains conversations about or mentions of murder, violence, enslavement, and power imbalance.    Housekeeping - Recommendation: This week, Julia recommends A Lady’s Guide to Scandal by Sophie Irwin! - Books: Check out our previous book recommendations, guests’ books, and more at spiritspodcast.com/books

We’ve dragged our good friend Brandon Grugle onto the show, to talk to him about his love of the supernatural, creepy long shadow fingers, “pleasure caves”, and a clawfoot tub FULL of pasta!   Content Warning: This episode contains conversations about or mentions of racism, death, suicide, ableism, murder, gun violence, domestic violence, and home invasion.   Guest Brandon Grugle is the Head of Production at Multitude, as well as a composer and sound designer who's worked on podcasts for Marvel, Stranger Things, Netflix, Sony, Wondery, and Atypical Artists, among others. His work has been featured at the Tribeca Film Festival, in countless publications, and even on a Times Square billboard. He lives in

This week we’re joined by historian Dr. Claire E. Aubin to talk about Nazism, monsters, and the combination of the two. We also discuss researching heavy topics, creating a supportive community, and Sharkenstein.   Content Warning: This episode contains conversations about or mentions of the Holocaust, antisemitism, racism, violence, murder, dehumanization, child death, and genocide.      Guest Dr. Claire E. Aubin is a historian of Holocaust perpetration, American public conception of Holocaust perpetrators, and Nazism. She also researches and teaches on antisemitism within the American Christian/far/alt-right. She is currently in the process of adapting her PhD dissertation on Holocaust perpetrators as i

We’ve talked about the gods, but what about the rest of the figures from Norse mythology? We’re talking frost giants, giant wolves, world serpents, and so much more.    Content Warning: This episode contains conversations about or mentions of violence, death, animal attacks, beauty standards, warfare, animal death, torture, and natural disasters.    Housekeeping - Recommendation: This week, Julia recommends a beach read! - Books: Check out our previous book recommendations, guests’ books, and more at spiritspodcast.com/books <span class=

We’re constantly being sold stuff, but what if we got sold more things by more monsters? We’re putting our favorite monster-branded commercials head to head to decide which monstrous mascot is best!    Content Warning: This episode contains conversations about or mentions of sex, violence, animal attacks, homophobia, and transphobia.    Guest Eric Silver is the Head of Creative at Multitude, an independent podcast collective and production studio in Brooklyn. He’s produced 11 podcasts that have racked up tens of millions of downloads, and developed many more, characterized by strong, original structures and thriving communities. He is also a writer, game designer, and teacher. Catch him every week on the actual play TTRPG show Join the Party, the games advice podca

Crocs on rocks! We’re joined by Niki Grayson to explore your urban legends: a shapeshifting, Crocs loving tanuki, and the fae teaching a baby Calculus.    Content Warning

We’re joined this week by photographers and creatives, Regis and Kahran Bethencourt, to chat about Western fairy tale retellings, African folklore, and creating fairy tales for a new generation of kids!    <span style= "font-size: 10.0pt; font-family: 'Verdana',sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; color: black; mso-font-k

There’s so many gods and goddesses in Norse mythology! But sadly not a lot of surviving stories about them. So we did a quick roundup to tell you about some of our favorite stories of the lesser known Vanir and Aesir!    Content Warning: This episode contains conversations about or mentions of war, violence, death, animal attacks, dismemberment, bugs, birth and labor, genitals,    Housekeeping - Recommendation: This week, Amanda recommends Planthropology Pod and Dr. Vikram Baliga’s TikTok! - Books: Check out our previous book recommendations, guests’ books, and more at spiritspodcast.com/books - Call to Action: Check out Exolore, where Dr. Moiya McTier explores fict

From Greek mythology to fairy lore, Shakespeare has always loved the magical and supernatural in his plays. With A Midsummer Night’s Dream, we chat about hot messengers, earnest amateur actors, and the parallels between rulers and fairy kings. Also, why doesn’t everyone just kiss a little?    Content Warning: This episode contains conversations about or mentions of genitals, death, execution, racism, exoticism, murder, human sacrifice, and abduction.     Housekeeping - Recommendation: This week, Julia recommends Life with Leo(h) - Books: Check out our previous book recommendations, guests’ books, and more at spiritspodcast.com/books - Call to Action: Check out Pale Blue Pod: an astronomy podcast for

We’re joined by author Samara Breger, to talk about vampires: queer vampires, Jewish vampires, and reclaiming The Vampire.    Content Warning: This episode contains conversations about or mentions of antisemitism, The Holocaust, eugenics, blood, homophobia/lesbophobia, misogyny, stalking, predatory relationships, animal death, sex, and death.    Guest Samara Breger writes books about women in improbable circumstances falling in love. Before she started writing books, she worked in public radio, podcasting, and digital journalism. She is a proud News and Documentary Emmy loser. If you peek into her work history, you'll find a lot of stuff about sex, reproductive health, and queer people. Her new book, A Long Time Dead, is now available.   <p dir="ltr"

Kids love triangles. Even though they’re very haunted. We tell camp stories featuring night sweeping, our desire to visit the school’s boiler room, and the RETURN OF THE DEMON PLUSH.   Content Warning: This episode contains conversations about or mentions of fire, genitals, death, natural disasters, insects, child endangerment, child death, and blood.    Housekeeping - Recommendation: This week, Amanda recommends Sarina Bowen’s True North series. - Books: Check out our previous book recommendations, guests’ books, and more at spiritspodcast.com/books - Call to Action: Listen to Games and Feelings today!   Sponsors - <a href= "http://betterhelp.com/sp

What’s in a name? Well, it turns out, a whole lot! We dive into the religious and folkloric origins of the True Name, the fantasy works it inspired, and how names are just as powerful now as they were in the dawn of humanity.    Content Warning: This episode contains conversations about or mentions of death, animal attacks, racism, slavery, and religious persecution.     Housekeeping - Links: Read more about names in Judaism here, here, and here! - Recommendation: This wee

It’s time for Freya, a goddess that contains multitudes. We discuss why amber is the coolest material for jewelry, Freya’s BATTLE SWINE, and the best drink ever: The Beer of Memory.    Content Warning: This episode contains conversations about or mentions of sex, violence, war, death, transphobia, toxic masculinity, slut shaming, and bestiality.     Housekeeping - Recommendation: This week, Amanda recommends the Jacques in the Garden YouTube channel - Books: Check out our previous book recommendations, guests’ books, and more at spiritspodcast.com/books - Call to Action: Take the Multitude summer survey now at multitude.productions/survey   Sponsors

What’s the deal with all these towers? We’re deep diving into the origins of the fairy tale tower, the historical reasons why they were keeping people in towers anyway, and laying out all the romance novel tropes beat by beat.   Content Warning: This episode contains conversations about or mentions of arophobia/aphobia, animal death, injury, imprisonment, abusive relationships, death, sex, suicidal ideation, war, misogyny, patriarchy, religious persecution, torture, beheading, death by lightning, and animal attacks.     Housekeeping - Recommendation: This week, Julia recommends Thistlefoot by GennaRose Nethercott! - Books: Check out our previous book recommendations, guests’ books, and more at spiritspodcast.com/books - Call to Action: <a hr

We hear about Amanda’s bathroom ghost, how all science laboratories are haunted, and cars are just horses and that’s why it works better for some people compared to others.    Content Warning: This episode contains conversations about or mentions of heart attacks, death, implied child death, clowns, body horror, and child endangerment.    Guest Janet Varney is an Emmy-Nominated actor, comedian, writer and producer. Her podcast on the Max Fun network, The JV Club with Janet Varney, has been going since 2012 and features almost 400 interviews with celebrities about their awkward teenage years.   Housekeeping - Recommendation: This week, Amanda recommends volunteering at a local garden! - Books: Check out our

We’re feeling nostalgic, so we’re bringing back an old favorite: THE BIRD HUSBAND. We explore the trope, its origins, and various types of birds who wind up as various types of husbands. As we discover, it’s hard to be a bird.    Content Warning: This episode contains conversations about or mentions of death, animal death, animal injury, abusive relationships, imprisonment, forced marriage, sexual references, and violence.    Housekeeping - Recommendation: This week, Julia recommends the video game, Dredge.  - Books: Check out our previous book recommendations, guests’ books, and more at spiritspodcast.com/books - Call to Action: Check out Exolore: Helping you imagine other worlds, but with facts and science! Every

Join us as we talk with writer and academic, Colin Dickey, and discuss hot takes of ghost hunting shows as reality TV, the banality of evil, and how haunted architecture reflects what society is most afraid of.   Content Warning: This episode contains conversations about or mentions of death, the Satanic Panic, ableism, gun violence, toxic masculinity, murder, Flat Earth and conspiracy theories, anti-semietism, sexual assault/abuse, infanticide, and assassination.    Guest Colin Dickey is a writer, speaker, and academic, and has made a career out of collecting unusual objects and hidden histories all over the country. He’s the author of multiple books, including Ghostland: An American History in Haunted Places, and The Unidentified: Mythical Monsters, Alien Encounters, and Our Obsession with the Unexplained. A regular contributor

We couldn’t do It’s Norse, Of Course without talking about our favorite trickster, Loki. We chat about his origins, the shenanigans he gets himself into, and why everyone is mad at him basically all the time!   Content Warning: This episode contains conversations about or mentions of sexual situations, misogyny, pregnancy, abduction, death, genitalia, crude humor, toxic masculinity, slavery, and violence.    Housekeeping - Recommendation: This week, Julia recommends The Adventures of Amina al-Sirafi by Shannon Chakraborty - Books: Check out our previous book recommendations, guests’ books, and more at spiritspodcast.com/books - Call to Action: Games and Feelings is an advice podcast about game

This week, it’s Rumpelstiltskin. Amanda reflects on pre-industrial revolution girl bossing, Julia starts singing her social security number into the breeze, and how parent’s need to learn better lies to brag about their children.   Content Warning: This episode contains conversations about or mentions of death, forced marriage, threat of violence, revolution, anti-semitism, kidnapping, body horror, racism, blood, and illness.     Housekeeping - Recommendation: This week, Amanda recommends The Super Mario Bros. Movie - Books: Check out our previous book recommendations, guests’ books, and more at spiritspodcast.com/books - Call to Action: Check out the Queer Movie Podcast - a queer movie watch party hosted by Rowan Ellis and Jazza John. Join them as th

Julia reminds you to warn your partners about your childhood hauntings, Amanda discovers something creepier than smells, and Eric makes it harder for us to sleep. It’s an urban legends episode, y’all!    Content Warning: This episode contains conversations about or mentions of illness, arson, fire, child labor, misogyny, sexual harassment, gore, guns, and home invasion.    Housekeeping - Recommendation: This week, Julia recommends BBC’s Ghosts  - Books: Check out our previous book recommendations, guests’ books, and more at spiritspodcast.com/books - Call to Action: Check out Tell Me About It, a madcap game show about proving that the things you like are actually interesting, hosted by Adal Rifai (from Hello From the Magic Tavern and Hey, Riddle Riddle) and

We’re back on our theatre grind, this time with a play about debauchery, tragedy, and our boy Dionysus: The Bacchae! It’s a play about plays! What’s not to love?   Content Warning: This episode contains conversations about or mentions of death, dismemberment, immolation, pregnancy, injury, concussion, violence, imprisonment, and animal death.    Housekeeping - Recommendation: This week, Julia recommends The Secrets of Hartwood Hall by Katie Lumsden.  - Books: Check out our previous book recommendations, guests’ books, and more at spiritspodcast.com/books - Call to Action: Sign up or gift a spot in Multitude’s classes today!    Sponsors <p dir="lt

She’s the Queen of the Asgard, highest ranking goddess of the Aesir, and overall badass lady, it’s Frigga! Learn about her squad of goddesses, her magic box, and her confusing glimpses of the future on our newest It’s Norse, Of Course.    Content Warning: This episode contains conversations about or mentions of misogyny, death, war, conquering, torture, impaling, and bugs/infestation.    Housekeeping - Recommendation: This week, Amanda recommends bringing the coffee you love on vacation! - Books: Check out our previous book recommendations, guests’ books, and more at spiritspodcast.com/books - Call to Action: Check out Pale Blue Pod: an astronomy podcast for people who are overwhelmed by the universe but want to be its friend! New episodes every Mond

Listen, kids love to join clubs. Even if it means potentially selling their souls to the ghosts haunting their homes. Also an abandoned gym, a mean ghost teacher, and Amanda becomes a Victorian ghost!   Content Warning: This episode contains conversations about or mentions of pregnancy, child endangerment, and death.    Housekeeping - Recommendation: This week, Amanda recommends journaling at a bar! - Books: Check out our previous book recommendations, guests’ books, and more at spiritspodcast.com/books - Call to Action: Check out Join the Party, a collaborative storytelling and roleplaying podcast co-hosted in part by Julia and Amanda. Search for Join the Party in your podcast app, or go to jointhepartypo

So Hallmark made a Golem RomCom: Made for Each Other. But is it actually a golem?? We brought back golem correspondent, Eric Silver, to remind us what defines a golem, as we explore other “made of clay” stories, and whether or not your favorite comic book characters ARE golems.   Content Warning: This episode contains conversations about or mentions of antisemitism, misogyny, and violence against women.    Guest Eric Silver is the Head of Creative at Multitude, an independent podcast collective and production studio in Brooklyn. He’s produced 11 podcasts that have racked up tens of millions of downloads, and developed many more, characterized by strong, original structures and thriving communities. He is also a writer, game designer, and teacher. Catch him every week on the actual play TTRPG show <a href="http://jointhepartypod.com

Buckle up, theater kids, we made a deal with the devil to cover the incredible store of Dr. Faustus. Faustus loves a monologue, Mephistopheles is a beleaguered middle manager, and Marlowe deserves a better legacy than just being compared to Shakespeare.   Content Warning: This episode contains conversations about or mentions of religious persecution, death, blasphemy/heresy, blood, misogyny, attempted murder, and beheading.    Housekeeping - Recommendation: This week, Julia recommends Little Thieves by Margaret Owen. - Books: Check out our previous book recommendations, guests’ books, and more at spiritspodcast.com/books - Call to Action: Check out Exolore: Helping you imagine other worlds, but with

We’re back with It’s Norse, Of Course! We’re telling the story of Baldur, who is really defined by, of all things, how he died. Hear the story. Throw things at your friends. Enjoy   Content Warning: This episode contains conversations about or mentions of death, violence, murder, and misogyny.    Housekeeping - Recommendation: This week, Amanda recommends body modifications! You do you! - Books: Check out our previous book recommendations, guests’ books, and more at spiritspodcast.com/books - Call to Action: Multitude Merch is now available!   Sponsors - Queer Candle Co. is a queer & trans owned business that m

We’re joined by audio sorcerer, Mischa Stanton, who swears they are not that spooky. Amanda tells us you’re not getting a horse in a basement, we debate whether a ghost makes a hotel sexier or less sexy, and we learn how Mischa managed to get their friends all worked up over a ghost they might have seen.    Content Warning: This episode contains conversations about or mentions of unsanitary conditions, sexual content, illness, death, and body horror.    Guest Mischa Stanton is an audio storyteller & full-time podcaster. Check out their shows StarTripper!!, Marvels, and the many many shows on Multitude like Pale Blue Pod, Games & Feelings, and Tell Me About It!    Housekeeping - Recommendat

We’re joined by author Helene Greer, who is here to tell us about Clytemnestra, or as she puts it, “The Murder Queen of All of Our Dreams”. We also discuss blood curses, sapphic battle axes, and making better Hallmark holiday movies.   Content Warning: This episode contains conversations about or mentions of cannibalism, torture, child death, murder, abuse, rape, misogyny, kidnapping, human sacrifice, slavery, sexual assault, the AIDS epidemic, transphobia, and sex.    Guest Helena Greer writes contemporary romance novels that answer the question, what if this beloved trope were gay? Helena was born in Tucson, and her heart still lives there although she no longer does. After earning a BA in writing and mythology, and a master's in library science, she spent several years blogging about librarianship before returning to writing cr

We know the “Oedipal complex,” but how well do we actually know the Oedipal Plays? This set of three plays is a real Star Wars situation, with prequels and sequels and also lots of feuding. Come for the high school theater stories, stay for the political commentary. This one is a wild ride.   Content Warning: This episode contains conversations about or mentions of death, suicide, incest, self-harm, war, kidnapping, and violence.   Housekeeping - Recommendation: This week, Amanda recommends  - Books: Check out our previous book recommendations, guests’ books, and more at spiritspodcast.com/books - Call to Action: Check out Pale Blue Pod: an astronomy podcast for people who are overwhelmed by the universe but want to be its friend! New episodes every

Dr. McTier is back, and we’re once again channeling the gods. We are learning how to fail safely, talk about stealing plants from your hometown, and discourage you from throwing rocks at your future wife. Y’know, the usual advice.    Content Warning: This episode contains conversations about or mentions of death, infidelity, anxiety, injury, grief, breakups, and sex.    Guest Dr. Moiya McTier is a New York-based astrophysicist who studies planets outside of our solar system. She is the co-host of Pale Blue Pod, an astronomy podcast for people who are overwhelmed by the universe, but want to be its friend. She’s also a folklorist who specializes in using scien

We’re kicking off It’s Norse of Course with a look at the All-Father himself. Come for the history of Norse mythology’s father figure, and stay for inevitable contemplations on death and meaning!   Content Warning: This episode contains conversations about or mentions of White supremacy, antisemitism, murder, hanging, maiming, and climate change.   Housekeeping - Recommendation: This week, Amanda recommends the new competition show Pressure Cooker. - Books<span style

From a Jewish Pope to a woman Pope, we are hearing all about the legendary popes from author Daniel Lavery. We talk about “The Rule of Harlots”, Dan Brown novels, and we pitch a production of a Young Pope Sheldon TV show.    Content Warning: This episode contains conversations about or mentions of religious persecution, antisemitism, homophobia, kidnapping, death, childbirth, misogyny, hanging, suicide, gore/body horror, illness, genitalia, transphobia,    Guest Daniel Lavery is the cofounder of The Toast and the author of Something That May Shock and Discredit You</s

Did you know, a ghost bird? Just a dinosaur. We’re joined by writer and comedian Corinne Caputo to explore your creepiest stories, get her opinion on Team Ignorant, and Zombie Jurassic Park.   Content Warning: This episode contains conversations about or mentions of suicide, fire, death, arranged marriage, dueling, and animal death.    Guest Corinne Caputo is a writer and comedian in New York City. She is the co-host of Pale Blue Pod, an astronomy podcast for people who are overwhelmed by the universe, but want to be its friend. Most recently she penned the three episode come

Throw out everything you know about Pinocchio. The story of this little puppet boy is wilder than you could possibly imagine. From the wild amount of fairy tale twists and turns to the surprising politics behind the tale, you’ll never look at Pinocchio the same again.    Content Warning: This episode contains conversations about or mentions of body horror, child endangerment/abuse, violence, murder, animal death, imprisonment, robbery, dismemberment, hanging, illness, circuses, food insecurity, poverty, and debt.   Housekeeping - Recommendation: This week, Julia recommends The Glass Onion.  <span st

You’ve probably heard about the evil eye; there are so many traditions on what it does and how to protect yourself from it! We dive into evil eye traditions around the world, and talk death rays, airplanes, and mummy tattoos.    Content Warning: This episode contains conversations about or mentions of migraines, colonization, bodily harm, death, violence, pseudoscience, illness, misogyny, sexual acts, child endangerment, fertility, child birth, and miscarriage.     Housekeeping - Recommendation: This week, Amanda recommends Highly Suspicious and Unfairly Cute <span style="font-weight: 400

The Orangey Guy is back, aren’t you excited?? Plus we discuss the best ways to give back to a haunted historic site, secrets revealed at funerals, and exes that live in haunted lighthouses.    Content Warning: This episode contains conversations about or mentions of family member death, illness, amputation, burns, and drug use.    Housekeeping - Recommendation: This week, Eric recommends 1899 on Netflix.  - Books: Check out our previou

As midwinter fast approaches, we explore The Wild Hunt; the spectral parade of spirits and souls that hunt across the European skies. We discover the surprising origins, the multiplicity of tales, and much more!   Content Warning: This episode contains conversations about or mentions of death, religious persecution, hunting, animal death, animal attacks, torture, fascism, and infidelity.    Housekeeping - Recommendation: This week, Amanda recommends A Restless Truth by Freya Marske.  - <span style= "font

What you know about alchemy might only be a scratch on the surface. Metal to gold? It’s so much more than that! We’re joined by Sara Norja, who is teaching us the history of alchemy. Also featuring PhD swords, philology, and the alchemy of ISAAC NEWTON??   Content Warning: This episode contains conversations about or mentions of pseudoscience, stillbirth, death, and medical issues.    Guest Sara Norja dreams in two languages and has a predilection for tea. Born in England to Finnish parents and settled in Helsinki, Finland, she lives for words, dance, and moments of wonder. She has a PhD in English language history; her dissertation was on early English alchemical manuscript texts. She write

Con artists and harmful horror tropes and production scandals, oh my! We’re talking about the Spielberg classic, Poltergeist, the origins of these spirits, and how we can do better with our horror tropes.    Content Warning: This episode contains conversations about or mentions of genocide, racism, violence, kidnapping, child endangerment, body horror, death, mourning, and misogyny.    Housekeeping - Recommendation: This week, Amanda recommends Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin.  <span

What was that noise? Just the pipes, right? WRONG! We talk about cleaning up paranormal messes, clearing up a haunting by flushing a toilet, and of course, the supernatural explanation: Cheetos.   Content Warning: This episode contains conversations about or mentions of colonization, body image, home invasion, divorce, and pregnancy.   Housekeeping - Recommendation: This week, Julia recommends buying from your local small businesses!  - Books: Check out our previous book recommendations, guests’ books, and more at <span style=

You checked under your pillow, and what’s that? A new Spirits episode? And it’s all about the Tooth Fairy?! We dig into the origins of this tradition, animals who collect teeth, and the ways we celebrate children’s milestones.    Content Warning: This episode contains conversations about or mentions of teeth, body horror, surgery, and animal/pet death.     Housekeeping - Recommendation: This week, Amanda recommends Wisdom Continuum.  - Books: Check o

We’re joined by author Van Hoang, who teaches us the story of the Monkey King, how Journey to the West MIGHT have been a romance novel, and how going through puberty turns every kid into a trickster spirit.    Content Warning: This episode contains conversations about or mentions of trauma, puberty, crude jokes, misogyny, and arranged marriage.     Guest Van Hoang’s first name is pronounced like the van in minivan. Her last name is pronounced “hah-wawng.” She earned her bachelor’s in English at the University of New Mexico and her master’s in library information science at San Jose State University. She was born in Vietnam, grew up in Orange County, California, and now resides in Los Angeles

Halloween might be over but we’re STILL thinking about our favorite horror movies and the best villains from those movies. Join Julia and Eric as they determine via this wild bracket who the best horror movie villain is!   Content Warning: This episode contains conversations about or mentions of body horror, violence, torture, murder, death, cancer, illness, cannibalism, cultural appropriation, and sex.     Housekeeping - Recommendation: This week, Amanda recommends All Dressed Up by Jilly Gagnon - <span

It’s what you’ve been waiting for. We’re finally going to solve ghosts. Answers like coffee ghosts, teenage shenanigans, and devious child lies.    Content Warning: This episode contains conversations about or mentions of misogyny, missing persons, abduction, and death.    Housekeeping - Recommendation: This week, Julia recommends watching your favorite horror movie! - Books: Check out our previous book recommendations, guests’ books, and more at spiritspodcast.com/books <span

Parental confirmations of ghosts, theories about a haunted sewing machine, and Schrodinger’s wedding guest? This episode has a lot, because it’s an urban legends episode, baby!   Content Warning: This episode contains conversations about or mentions of bodily functions, home invasions, divorce, and murder.    Housekeeping - Recommendation: This week, Amanda recommends Thank You For Listening by Julia Whelan - Books: Check out our prev

Did you have an imaginary friend growing up? Was he a creepy shadow hanging out in the corner? Even if you didn’t, we’ve got plenty of scary stories submitted by our listeners for this urban legends episode!   Content Warning: This episode contains conversations about or mentions of murder, death, medical horror, military, dismemberment, dead animals, colonialism, bugs, and mutiliation.    Housekeeping - Recommendation: This week, Amanda recommends The Hookup Plan by Farrah Rochon - <span style= "font-we

There’s something that’s just spooky about a hotel, haunted or not. But these hotels? They’re definitely haunted. But don’t worry, y’all, we’re not entering our haunting phase just yet.    Content Warning: This episode contains conversations about or mentions of illness, death, child death, colonialism, misogyny, violence against women, murder, fire, lewd jokes, and dead bodies.    Housekeeping - Recommendation: This week, Julia recommends Malignant on HBO Max. - Books: Check out our previo

We’ve got a lot of dragons in pop culture; funny dragons, scary dragons, wise dragons, vicious dragons. But who is the BEST dragon? Amanda and Julia are doing another bracket to figure it out!   Content Warning: This episode contains conversations about or mentions of death and immolation.    Housekeeping - Recommendation: This week, Julia recommends Just Like Home by Sarah Gailey. - Books: Check out our previous book recommendations

We’re joined by Mara Wilson, who regales us with her experiences growing up in a haunted house, living the “gothic valley” life, and what would be scarier to meet: a ghost or an alien?   Content Warning: This episode contains conversations about or mentions of misogyny, aircraft accident, earthquakes, parent death, illness, body horror, mental illness, murder, blood, animal death, and the Civil War.    Guest Mara Wilson, known for her childhood roles in Mrs. Doubtfire and Matilda, is a writer and actor living in Los Angeles. Recently, she has appeared on Welcome to Night Vale, Broad City and Bojack Horseman. Her writing has appeared in the New York Times, Elle, McSweeney’s, Reductress, and many other outlets. She also publishes a newsletter of her writing with <a href="

Liminality. Transition. Limbo. Thin places. The betwixt and between! This episode is all about one of our favorite things in mythology and pop culture: liminal spaces!    Content Warning: This episode contains conversations about or mentions of child death, death, murder, and violence.    Housekeeping - Recommendation: This week, Julia recommends The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent. - Books: Check out our previous book recommendations, guests’

It's Episode 300, which means we're giving Spirits some special updates and upgrades. You will notice freshened-up art and music on today's episode, but most importantly for you, we're giving you MORE and COOLER Patreon benefits.   New Benefits <div class= "public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyl

It’s our 300th episode! And to celebrate, you’re getting an extra-long urban legends episode! Ghost horses, ghost lights, office doppelgangers, ghost grandmas, and haunted houses? We’re hitting ALL the creepy and cool things this episode.    Content Warning: This episode contains conversations about or mentions of animal death, drug use, death, illness, colonialism, displaced communities, suicide, misogyny, familial abuse, dementia, gentrification, insects/spiders, and decapitation.    Housekeeping - Recommendation: This week, Amanda recommends The Accidental Pinup <span style="font-weigh

The woods might be dark and full of wolves (which yes, they’re a metaphor), but together we can follow the path of the history of Little Red Riding Hood; from the oral traditions of the French peasantry, to the Brothers Grimm, and on to modern retellings.    Content Warning: This episode contains conversations about or mentions of violence, death, lewd sexual and scatalogical humor, animal attacks, cannibalism, sexual assault, slut shaming, beheading, child abuse, birth, animal death, drowning, ageism, sexualizing minors, misogyny, and bestiality.    Housekeeping - Recommendation: This week, Julia recommends <span style= "font-weight: 4

Welcome to Head Heart Gut, where the Multitude hosts argue about the best things using our head, our heart and our gut. This is a supercut of the first three Best Animal Heroes episodes, featuring Julia Schifini, Eric Schneider, and Jazza John! If you want to hear the judgment episode of this section, or get access to the years and years of arguments — go to multicrew.club to join the Multicrew!

From the Satanic Panic to the urban legends of our youth, we talk to podcaster Sarah Marshall of You’re Wrong About to get her takes on creepiest and coolest ways urban legends have changed the world.    Content Warning: This episode contains conversations about or mentions of QAnon, Satanic Panic, pedophilia, sexual abuse, child abuse, animal death, bugs, racism, gore, poisoning, anti-semitism, grooming, transphobia, and homophobia.     Guest Sarah Marshall is a writer, podcaster, and media critic focused on setting straight our collective memory—or at least getting to the bottom of why we believe and in turn define ourselves by popular narrative and myth. She is the co-host of the p

Babies of unusual size, vegetable babies, animal babies, and more! This week we’re talking about the most interesting babies of mythology, folklore, and fairy tales, from the Minotaur to Thumbling and everything in between.    Content Warning: This episode contains conversations about or mentions of pregnancy, birth, ableism, xenophobia, infertility, forced birth, abortion, misogyny, child abandonment, violence, neglect, child abuse, bestiality, death, natural disaster, and anti-semitism.    Housekeeping - Recommendation: This week, Julia recommends Prey on Hulu.  -<

A renovated haunted house, a transforming cat god, and of course, a creepy kid. We broke out the big spooky stuff for this episode where we’re all in the same room. Ooooooh spooky!   Content Warning: This episode contains conversations about or mentions of mental illness, suicidal thoughts, car accidents, genocide, racism, injury, and war.   Housekeeping - Recommendation: This week, Amanda recommends crop tops! Wear ‘em! - Books: Check out our previous book recommendations, guests’ books, and more at <span style= "font-weight:

It’s Eric’s birthday on the show, so we sit down to watch one of his childhood favorite films: Bedknobs and Broomsticks. And boy, it sure is a film! We talk WWII flavored magic adventures, con men, and an incredibly long dance number in this underloved Disney movie.    Content Warning: This episode contains conversations about or mentions of war, Nazis, fascism, death, misogyny, displacement, and child endangerment.    Housekeeping - Recommendation: This week, Julia recommends The Bear on Hulu! - Books: Check out our previous book recommendations, guests’ books, and more at</

Big questions, little questions, these figures of folklore, mythology and world religion are here to answer them. We tackle camp quandaries, quitting jobs, and the world burning with their help.    Content Warning: This episode contains conversations about or mentions of ableism, mental health, depression, homophobia, climate change, fascism, and hate crimes.    Guest Dr. Moiya McTier is a New York-based astrophysicist who studies planets outside of our solar system. She’s also a folklorist who specializes in using science and logic to build fictional worlds. You can hear all about the worlds she’s built on her podcast, Exolore<span style="font-weig

Calling all sports fans! We’re joined by author KD Casey to talk about America’s pastime,  baseball, through the lens of modern legend, romance, and inclusivity.    Content Warning: This episode contains conversations about or mentions of sexism, ableism, anti semitism, and homophobia.    Guest KD Casey is a romance writer and baseball enthusiast living in the Washington, DC, area, whose journey into baseball spans watching the Orioles play in the `90s, the Pirates play in the 2000s, and the Nationals play at RFK Stadium in the early, ignominious days of the franchise. On the nonfiction side, she’s written for a variety of baseball analysis websites, though can primarily be found at Baseball

It’s a party, and Dionysus has invited you! As we wrap up “It’s All Greek to Me” with the party god, we look at his unique place on Olympus, the tragic origins of wine, and bucking societal expectations.    Content Warning: This episode contains conversations about or mentions of mental illness, death, immolation, body image issues, cancer, gaslighting, premature birth, gore, animal attacks, suicide, murder, misogyny, animal death, and genitalia.    Housekeeping - Live Show: Join us on July 15th in-person in NYC OR stream the show live!  <sp

Come see the entire Spirits Podcast team LIVE, united in person for the first time since 2020, next FRIDAY at Caveat in NYC!Join us in-person (proof of vaccination required, mask strongly encouraged) or via LIVESTREAM or VOD!   So no matter where you are in the world, YOU CAN COME. Yes, you.   <div class="p-

Amanda reveals she is the shower ghost, Julia demands answers and closure, and Eric comes out as anti-olive. It’s an urban legends episode and the last story is CONTENTIOUS.    Content Warning: This episode contains conversations about or mentions of climate change, blood, murder, home invasion, genitalia, sleep paralysis, animal illness, death, and bugs.    Housekeeping - Live Show: Join us on July 15th in-person in NYC OR stream the show live!  - Recommendation<

This week we’re joined by author Sascha Stronach to talk about his debut novel, The Dawnhounds. We chat about spreading Māori science fiction, mushroom cities, and being joyously weird.   Content Warning: This episode contains conversations about or mentions of pandemic, politics, colonization, colorism, racism, violence, mold/decay, sewage, and climate change.    Guest Sascha Stronach (Kāi Tahu, Kāti Huirapa Rūnaka ki Puketeraki) is a speculative fiction author based out of Wellington, New Zealand. His debut novel <a href= "https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-dawnhounds-sascha-stronach/11340514

Hestia is the living embodiment of the heart of the home. This oft-forgotten Olympian might not have gotten into the same shenanigans and antics that the other gods got into, but that doesn’t stop her from being an incredibly important goddess.    Content Warning: This episode contains conversations about or mentions of death, birth, colonization, abandonment, execution, being buried alive, imprisonment, enslavement, and propaganda.    Housekeeping - Live Show: Join us on July 15th in-person in NYC OR stream the show live!  <span style="font

Julia’s house might be haunted, but we’re not gonna dwell on that. Instead, we’re revisiting how haunted pasta is, yelling at you about using homemade ouija boards, and picture ourselves as extremely haunted dolls.    Content Warning: This episode contains conversations about or mentions of family member death, health conditions, bugs, and ouija boards.   Housekeeping - Live Show: Join us on July 15th in-person in NYC OR stream the show live!  - Recommendation<spa

It’s summertime and we’re revisiting our own hometown urban legends. Don’t go swimming in Lake Ronkonkoma, don’t visit the Hell House, and don’t look too deep into the military base that inspired Stranger Things. But DO grab a Long Island beer and listen to this episode.    Content Warning: This episode contains conversations about or mentions of suicide, murder, death, execution, drowning, colonization, police corruption, animal attacks, child death, war, hanging, car accidents, medical/scientific experimentation, decomposition, military, and disease.    Housekeeping - Live Show: Join us on July

We’re joined by author B.L. Blanchard to imagine a North America without colonization. We talk about map-making as world-building, returning home, and dancing the rice.    Content Warning: This episode contains conversations about or mentions of murder, imprisonment, colonization, climate change, death, heart attack, and estrangement.    Guest Brooke Blanchard, who writes under the name B. L. Blanchard, is a graduate of the UC Davis creative writing honors program and was a writing fellow at Boston University School of Law. She is a lawyer and enrolled member of the Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians. She is originally from the Upper Peninsula of Michigan but has lived in California for so

As queen of the Olympians, Hera gets a bit of a bad reputation. But we’re here to tell you that not all of her stories focus on revenge and toxic relationships. She deserves some love too!    Content Warning: This episode contains conversations about or mentions of misogyny, sexual assault, cheating/extramarital affairs, toxic relationships, childbirth, labor, premature birth, infertility, child endangerment, animal death, mental illness, animal sacrifice, and murder.    Housekeeping - Merch: Pick up your Spirits major arcana tarot deck and get our first sticker of the month at spiritspodcast.com/merch

You know we live in a digital age when we’re VERY excited to be reading a handwritten urban legend. We discuss whether hot breath or cold breath on your ear is better (because…ghosts) and discuss whether or not ghosts can or even SHOULD breathe.   Content Warning: This episode contains conversations about or mentions of spiders, death, dangerous working conditions, child death, drowning, dismemberment, car accidents, and surgery.    Housekeeping - Merch: Pick up your Spirits major arcana tarot deck and get our first sticker of the month at spiritspodcast.com/merch - <s

Was Drew Barrymore’s “Ever After” the best version of the Cinderella story? We’re joined by lexicographer Jane Solomon to determine if this 90s body glitter filled movie truly embodies this fairy tale!    Content Warning: This episode contains conversations about or mentions of sexual innuendo, heart attack, death, slavery, violence, gore, murder, abuse, and child abandonment.    Guest Jane Solomon is a lexicographer and emoji expert based in Oakland, California. She spends her days working on various projects related to words and emoji. She's currently the Senior Emoji Lexicographer at Emojipedia</span

We’re joined by author Isabel Cañas to talk about her debut novel, The Hacienda, and all things postcolonial gothic! And along the way we chat about Latinx Mirkwood elves, the haunted house book boom, and holding the door open for others.    Content Warning: This episode contains conversations about or mentions of murder, storms, rejection, isolation, colorism, racism, and colonization.    Guest Isabel Cañas is a Mexican-American speculative fiction writer. After having lived in Mexico, Scotland, Egypt, and Turkey, among other places, she has settled (for now) in New York City, where she works on her PhD di

Next time you’re buying pottery or some cool jewelry, remember that Hephaestus is to thank for that and SO much more. Learn how the Greeks did Hephaestus dirty, and how he’s even cooler than you even knew.   Content Warning: This episode contains conversations about or mentions of ableism, eugenics, illness, abuse, the military/war, violence, sex, pregnancy/birth, and sexual assault/rape.   Resources for Disability research: Disability Visibility Project, Alice Wong, <span style= "fon

There’s a lot of teens getting into shenanigans in this episode. Driving on haunted roads that might not exist, accidentally turning themselves into urban legends, and singing karaoke with ghosts. Teen shenanigans!   Content Warning: This episode contains conversations about or mentions of death, child endangerment/death, hanging, sexual innuendo, ableism, trauma, sexual assault, cancer, enslavement, divorce, and animal death. Housekeeping - CTA: See us this weekend at HavenCon!  - <span style= "font-weight: 400;

The gods are on the line, and we’re asking them for advice. We discuss “no, for now”, chaos gods give advice on finding order in life, and a living island tells you to live life at your own pace.    Thread about Perspective Memory   Content Warning: This episode contains conversations about or mentions of relationships, romantic rejection, pregnancy/birth, rejection/failure, queerbaiting, mental illness, classism, and body horror.    Guest Dr. Moiya McTier is a New York-based astrophysicist who studies planets outside of our solar system. She’s also a folklorist who specializes in using science and logic to build fictional worlds. You can hear all

We’re joined by author Natasha Bowen, who spins us the tale of her love of mermaids, the darker fairy tales of her youth, and connecting to the West African mermaids of her family.    Content Warning: This episode contains conversations about or mentions of drowning, slavery, death, grief, and racism.    Guest Natasha Bowen is a New York Times bestselling author, a teacher, and a mother of three children. She is of Nigerian and Welsh descent and lives in Cambridge, England, where she grew up. Natasha studied English and creative writing at Bath Spa University before moving to East London, where she taught for nearly ten years. Skin of the Sea is her debut novel and the start of an epic series born

Whatever you thought about Ares before now, we think we can change your mind a little bit. We’re talking about propaganda, roosters, and learning lessons from our mistakes.    Content Warning: This episode contains conversations about or mentions of war, violence, death, sexual assault, human sacrifice, blood, murder, arrranged marriage, incest, propaganda, and gore.    Housekeeping - MERCH! Preorder the Tarot Tee Shirt and get your other merch at spiritspodcast.com/merch! - Recommendation</

From haunted colleges to towns full of creepy kids, we’re doling out advice on how best to survive your own hometown urban legends!    Content Warning: This episode contains conversations about or mentions of death, government conspiracy, colonization, and college/finals.    Housekeeping - MERCH! Preorder the Tarot Tee Shirt and get your other merch at spiritspodcast.com/merch! - Recommendation: This week, Julia recommends <a href= "https://book

We’re joined by author Mayonn Paasewe-Valchev, an incredible storyteller and educator. We talk about how myths are purposeful, cautionary storytelling, and the differences between oral storytelling and literary traditions.     Content Warning: This episode contains conversations about or mentions of parental death, grief, animal attacks, drowning, and kidnapping.   Guest Mayonn Paasewe-Valchev was born in Liberia, where she was exposed to a culture of oral storytelling at a young age. She lived in the Netherlands for several years, where she learned to stuff her klompen (wooden shoes) with carrots and developed a love for reading stories—especially tales written by Roald Dahl and Astrid Lindgren. She li

If you’ve ever debated over drinks who the best vampire is, this is the episode for you! We’re joined by the hosts of the Queer Movie Podcast, Rowan Ellis and Jazza John, to decided, once and for all, who the most vampirey vampire is!   Content Warning: This episode contains conversations about or mentions of death, illness, sex, fascism, depression, The Civil War, and homophobia.    Guests Rowan Ellis and Jazza John are the hosts of Queer Movie Podcast<span styl

We’re finally chatting about the goddess of Sex, Love, and Not Exactly Rock and Roll: Aphrodite! We talk about why our parents warned us about sea foam, and Amanda gives us a tour of the Poetry Corner!    Content Warning: This episode contains conversations about or mentions of sex, incest, castration, genitals, adultery, misogyny, ableism, mental illness, childbirth, death, murder, and war.      Housekeeping - MERCH! Preorder the Tarot Tee Shirt and get your other on-sale merch at spiritspodcast.com/merch! - <span style= "

We’re opening the portal, but don’t worry, we’ll remember to close it. Ghosts help Eric with some home improvement, Amanda goes to WikiHow for some Ouija Board instructions, and Julia gives some supernatural house hunting advice.    Content Warning: This episode contains conversations about or mentions of fire, murder, violence, illness, and death.    Housekeeping - MERCH! Preorder the Tarot Tee Shirt and get your other on-sale merch at spiritspodcast.com/merch! - Recommendation<span

We’re joined this week by Dr. Vivian Asimos, who explains that just about anything can be mythology. Yes, including Star Wars, The Legend of Zelda, and cosplay.    Content Warning: This episode contains conversations about or mentions of drowning, child death, and sexual assault.      Guest Vivian Asimos is a freelance academic specializing in all things popular culture and mythology. She has produced several publications including Digital Monsters, a book exploring online horror stories. She runs the blog Incidental Mythology, dedicated to the intersections of popular culture and mythology, and is currently undertaking a <a href= "https://www.in

The gods have a lot in store for us this week. Amanda talks about being dragged out of the “dank woods”, Moiya suggests finding a third beaker, and Julia gets marriage advice from Hades of all people.    Content Warning: This episode contains conversations about or mentions of spiders, animal death, incest, death, depression, grief, family death, ableism, war, and animal violence.    Guest Dr. Moiya McTier is a New York-based astrophysicist who studies planets outside of our solar system. She’s also a folklorist who specializes in using science and logic to build fictional worlds. You can hear all about the worlds she’s built on her podcast, Exolore

King of Interns, patron of finance bros, we’re talking this week about our messenger god, Hermes! Amanda channels her past jobs, and Julia thinks about THE MOST HANDSOME BOY.     Content Warning: This episode contains conversations about or mentions of sexual assault/rape, death, homophobia, animal death, childbirth, bestiality, misogyny, theft, violence, genitalia, and execution.    Housekeeping - MERCH! Preorder the Tarot Tee Shirt and get your other on-sale merch at spiritspodcast.com/merch! - <span style= "font-weight:

If you were wandering through the forest, what would be the creepiest floating body part to spot? We discuss. Amanda loves a dog with an opinion. Eric wants to slide down the chute. Julia hates the air.    Content Warning: This episode contains conversations about or mentions of hunting, animal death, death, medical experimentation, illness, injury, and curses.    Housekeeping - MERCH! Get the Mothman Crewneck at spiritspodcast.com/merch! - Recommendation: T

Have you ever thought about how messed up the Pokemon world is? We have! We’re joined by Eric Silver to do a deep dive into the most terrifying entries in the Pokedex, and what it means for the folklore of the Pokemon universe.    Content Warning: This episode contains conversations about or mentions of murder, child death, child endangerment, body horror, medical experimentation, racism, classism, animal endangerment, and freezing to death.     Guest Eric is a writer, audio producer, game designer and teacher based in Brooklyn, NY. He’s the DM of Join the Party, a D&D actual play podcast with tangible worlds, genr

Didn’t you want a magical animal companion as a kid? We know we did! Amanda revisits her childhood favorite example, the daemons from the His Dark Materials series, while Julia brings her fave myth pups, horses, and birds.    Content Warning: This episode contains conversations about or mentions of animal death, decapitation, death, and war.  Housekeeping - MERCH! Get the Mothman Crewneck at spiritspodcast.com/merch! - Recommendation: Th

The goddess of compost has finally made an appearance on our podcast: Demeter. Strap in, and find out what we mean when we whisper: “An ear of grain, cut in silence”.    Content Warning: This episode contains conversations about or mentions of insects, sex, death, strained familial relationships, abduction, cannibalism, animal death, violence, fire/burning, and drug use.  Housekeeping - MERCH! Get the Mothman Crewneck at spiritspodcast.com/merch! - Recommendation<span s

It seems only right to end the year with urban legends. Julia has an embarrassing revelation, Eric decides colors are the most haunted, and we discover a “thoroughly” haunted manor.    Content Warning: This episode contains conversations about or mentions of illness, child endangerment, child death, car accidents, drug use, drowning, assault, strangulation, infidelity, infertility, and suicide.    Housekeeping - MERCH! Get the Mothman Crewneck at spiritspodcast.com/merch! - Re

We’re bombarded every year by various holiday romcoms, so Amanda has offered to take us by the hand and lead us through the tropes that make these movies both terrible and incredibly enjoyable.    Content Warning: This episode contains conversations about or mentions of heteronormativity, infidelity, surgery, strained family relationships, dismemberment, and foreclosure.  Housekeeping - MERCH! Get the Mothman Crewneck at spiritspodcast.com/merch! - Recommendation<span s

When you think of Santa Claus, what do you picture? The big guy in red is this malleable, larger than life figure that has origins that might surprise you. Luckily, we have Emily VanDerWerff to guide us through the labyrinth of who Santa is.   Content Warning: This episode contains conversations about or mentions of illness, racism, religious persecution, violence, child death, cannibalism, family dysfunction, economic anxiety, and sex.     Guest Emily VanDerWerff is Critic at Large for Vox and co-creator of the podcast Arden. Follow her on

This episode is as wild and stormy as the god we talk about; there’s talking horses, there’s hot wives who love sea monsters, and he’s got a lot of great titles. What more could you want out of a god?   Content Warning: This episode contains conversations about or mentions of sexual assault/rape, drowning, natural disasters/earthquakes, incest, cults, child endagerment/abandonment, violence against women, murder, cannibalism, and animal death.   Housekeeping - MERCH! Get the Mothman Crewneck at spiritspodcast.com/merch! -

We’re delivering your urban legends; hot, fresh, and straight from a creepy basement. Or perhaps you’d like a creepy attic door that refuses to close. It’s a real buffet of creepiness, served up for you.    Content Warning: This episode contains conversations about or mentions of dead animals, medical horror, human remains, insects, swarms, drug use, earthquakes, and mental health struggles.   Housekeeping - MERCH! Get the Mothman Crewneck at spiritspodcast.com/merch! - Recommendation</span

The gods are back to give advice, with advice dealing with angsty teenagers from a teacher of gods, to learning to become fluent in fae speak to get out of uncomfortable conversations. Just in time for the holidays!   Content Warning: This episode contains conversations about or mentions of arranged marriage, abuse, burning, ableism, pregnancy, misogyny, apocalypse, climate change, and  racism.   Guest Dr. Moiya McTier is a New York-based astrophysicist who studies planets outside of our solar system. She’s also a folklorist who specializes in using science and logic to build fictional worlds. You can hear all about the worlds she’s built on her podcast, Exolore</s

Sometimes you just gotta go off about Paul Bunyan and timber. We’re joined by Leah Lemm, who shares with us growing up with Paul Bunyan stories, how he became a villain in her eyes, and how to honor history without making things up.     Content Warning: This episode contains conversations about or mentions of colonialism, ecoterrorism, deforestation, violence against Indigenous people, manifest destiny,  human rights violations, animal death, generational trauma, cannibalism, ableism, bullying, fire/burning, drowning, and animal attacks.    Guest Leah Lemm is a radio & podcast host/producer, singer/songwriter, and a member of the Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe. Her work revolves around sound/mus

It’s Girl Boss Time-- We mean, Athena Time. We talk about some cool birds that we like, how Meryl Streep is channeling Athena in most of the movies she’s in, and how weaving is cooler than war, anyway.    Content Warning: This episode contains conversations about or mentions of cannibalism, birth, head injuries, fratricide, pregnancy, infidelity, child death, child endangerment, negging, starvation, misogyny, flooding, natural disasters, war, murder, death, and rape/sexual assault.     Housekeeping - TAROT! Get the Spirits Major Arcana at spiritspodcast.com/merch!

This is it. This is the one. Potentially the spookiest story we’ve ever told on this show. In fact it is the ONLY story of this episode. That’s how good it is. Trust us, you won’t be disappointed. Presenting: The Shuddering of Creekside Mushrooms.    Content Warning: This episode contains conversations about or mentions of corrupt law enforcement, racism, dangerous working conditions, disappearances, scientific experimentation, Alzheimer’s, sharks, insects, migraines, mining and mining accidents, animals in peril, dissociation, memory loss, politics, human sacrifice, and pandemic.      Housekeeping - TAROT! Get the Spirits Major Arcana at <span style= "font

We’re talking demons, haunted houses, and horror tropes as we watch 2013’s The Conjuring. And asking the important question: How long would YOU live in this haunted a house?   Content Warning: This episode contains conversations about or mentions of death, misogyny, mental health/mental illness, violence against women, animal death, possession, suicide, murder, child endangerment, drowning, child death, human sacrifice, home invasions, colonialism, and body horror.     Housekeeping - Live Show: Join us October 27th at 8:00 EST for a LIVE virtual show! Get your tickets at spiritspodcast.com/live<span style=

This week, author Maggie Tokuda-Hall joins us to talk about all things murder and magic. From the exploration of gender, to werewolves as a metaphor for trauma, and everything in between, this interview has it all!    Content Warning: This episode contains conversations about or mentions of fire, body image, drug use, blood, imperialism, fascism, racism, gender dysphoria, homophobia, transphobia, eating disorders, sexual assault, rape, trauma, and sex.     Housekeeping - Live Show: Join us October 27th at 8:00 EST for a LIVE virtual show! Get your tickets at spiritspodcast.com/live<span style= "font-weight

We’re back visiting the Olympian gods and this time it’s finance bro Apollo. We talk about all the women (and men!) Apollo has wronged, and of course, celebrate SoupFest 2021. You’re welcome, Apollo.    Content Warning: This episode contains conversations about or mentions of animal death, intoxication, misogyny, sexual assault, pregnancy, war, death, disease/plague, kidnapping, slavery, fighting, infedelity, grief, and incest.    Housekeeping - Live Show: Join us October 27th at 8:00 EST for a LIVE virtual show! Get your tickets at spiritspodcast.com/live!  <

We’re going on a haunted date through the forest. Because you don’t really know your partner until you see how polite they are to a terrifying German bone man. But bonus points if they’re ghost hunting grandmas.    Content Warning: This episode contains conversations about or mentions of infections, underage drinking, college finals, child abduction, child endangerment, sexual assault, transphobia, grandparent death, heteronormativity, ageism, and bones.    Housekeeping - Live Show: Join us October 27th at 8:00 EST for a LIVE virtual show! Get your tickets at spiritspodcast.com/live<span style= "font-weigh

Hold on a second, we’re channeling the gods to answer your questions about creativity, religion, bachelorette parties, body image and more. Don’t worry, your cool wine Aunt Inanna is here to help.   Content Warning: This episode contains conversations about or mentions of human sacrifice, war, abusive relationships, death, dismemberment, murder, grief, religious experiences, body image issues, ableism, anxiety, and white supremacy.    Guest Dr. Moiya McTier is a New York-based astrophysicist who studies planets outside of our solar system. She’s also a folklorist who specializes in using science and logic to build fictional worlds. You can hear all about the worlds she’s built on her podcast, <spa

There’s something magical about the magic of home, and Sarah Hollowell wrote a whole book about it. We talk about spending time in the elementary school forest, being raised nerdy, and writing books for your high school self.    Content Warning: This episode contains conversations about or mentions of gore, abuse, child endangerment, queerphobia, mental illness, racism, fatphobia, bugs, and anger issues.    Guest Sarah Hollowell is a queer fat Hoosier writer aiming to up the magic quotient of Indiana.She graduated from Ball State University with a degree in creative writing, and she remains there to this day. Sarah’s debut YA contemporary fantasy novel, <a href= "https://bookshop.org/

Introducing our newest segment: It’s All Greek to Me - Finally Fulfilling the Promise of Spirits Podcast, by Spirits Podcast. And of course we’re starting off with Julia’s favorite goddess from when she first picked up Edith Hamilton’s Mythology: Artemis!    Content Warning: This episode contains conversations about or mentions of sexual harassment and assault, murder, death, pregnancy, birth, misogyny, hunting, animal death, human sacrifice, virginity, heteronormativity, maiming, child abandonment/endangerment, grief, fratricide, death in childbirth, mutilation, and kidnapping/abduction.    Housekeeping - Recommendation: This week, Julia recommends <a href= "https://www.longislandmonstergallery.co

Children in dangerous situations, children being scared by pickles, the kids are creepy but alright! The new urban legends episode features many holes, and NONE of them are good.    Content Warning: This episode contains conversations about or mentions of missing persons, child endangerment, religious persecution, car accidents, death, animal death/entrails, nuclear meltdown/Chernobyl, sex, and grandparent death.    Housekeeping - Recommendation: This week, Amanda recommends the work of Rabbi Danya Ruttenberg. Check out her book, <a h

It’s movie night and we’ve watched the stunning film, The Green Knight. We talk classic fairy tale tropes, Arthurian canon, Latin funeral hymns, letting Dev Patel sleep, and what exactly the problems with chivalry are.    Content Warning: This episode contains conversations about or mentions of violence, murder, beheading/decapitation, violence against women, animal violence, bunk psychology, body horror, unwanted sexual advances, infedelity, and blood.    Housekeeping - Recommendation: This week, Julia recommends The Murderbot Diaries by Martha Wells. </sp

We’re joined by author and professor Veronica Schanoes, who leads us through a forest of  the feminism of Alice in Wonderland, taking moralizing out of the fairy tales, and tackling forgiveness.    Stories Based on Jewish Folklore and Magic, on Electric Literature.    Content Warning: This episode contains conversations about or mentions of bodily harm, antisemitism, gun violence, murder, arrest/imprisonment, depression, implied pedophilia, emotional manipulation, torture, racism, slavery, child endangerment, kidnapping, dismemberment, and religious persecution.    Guest <span s

Lay your head down, close your eyes, and drift off to dreamland as we talk about the mythological stories and figures that inhabit your dreams! Also, dream interpretation via...puns?   More information from We R Native.    Content Warning: This episode contains conversations about or mentions of medical complications, nightmares, intrusive thoughts, drug use, sex, violence, death, feces/excrement, child endangerment, body horror, kidnapping, and cultural appropriation.    Housekeeping - Recommendation: This week, Julia recommen

There’s something very special about this episode. We answer questions like “why can’t capitalism be a ghost?”, “are ghosts part of your college orientation?” and “have you ever tried to carbon date a ghost?”. And of course, a ghost train.    Content Warning: This episode contains conversations about or mentions of capitalism, abusive job situations, child death, sex, sexual assault/flashers, sexually transmitted diseases, and animal death.    Housekeeping - Recommendation: This week, Julia recommends Six Wakes by Mur Lafferty.  <span style="

Robots, androids, AI - the staples of our science fiction media actually have very historical and mythological inspiration! Join us as we discuss the 1973 movie, Westworld, and explore the origins of our robot interest.    Content Warning: This episode contains conversations about or mentions of death, murder, violence, gun violence, existential crisis, divorce, sex, religious persecution, assault, genocide, apocalyptic scenarios, misogyny, incels, sexual assault, politics, wealth disparity, and kidnapping.    Housekeeping - Recommendation: This week, Amanda recommends Wildfang<span style= "font-weight:

We’re joined by author and storyteller, Owl Goingback. He tells us all about things like befriending the Creature from the Black Lagoon, hoping to see Sasquatch, and his personal experiences as the caretaker of the most haunted cemetery in Florida.   Content Warning: This episode contains conversations about or mentions of death, torture, hauntings, body horror, animal attacks, lynching, child death, unmarked graves, murder, mass shootings, hurricanes/natural disasters, Covid-19, imprisonment, enslavement, genocide, cannibalism, disturbing burial grounds, colonization/settlement, suicide, and cultural appropriation.   Guest Owl Goingback has been writing

In the past, we’ve talked about bird husbands and seal wives, but today we’re diving deep into Animal Spouses with the Japanese folk tale, the Crane Wife!   Content Warning: This episode contains conversations about or mentions of animal endangerment/death, abusive relationships, arranged/forced marriages, illness, urination, pregnancy, childbirth, blinding, rape, sexual assault, child abandonment, sex, bestiality, and virginity.    Housekeeping - Recommendation: This week, Amanda recommends Leverage: Redemption<span style= "f

This episode is full of creepy shenanigans, don’t worry. We talk viral Tiktok ghosts, respecting funeral directors and undertakers, and what was definitely a Hot Topic teen ghost.    Content Warning: This episode contains conversations about or mentions of teeth, surgery, cadavers, imprisonment, capital punishment, fire, death, ableism, funeral homes, death of family members, bodily functions, and post-surgery depression.    Here’s a link to Tammy the Face Ghost.    Housekeeping - Recommendation<span style= "font-we

The gods have given more advice, and we’re sharing it with you. We trick imposter syndrome with a trickster, making new houses and apartments into a home, and tackling to-do lists.    Content Warning: This episode contains conversations about or mentions of fire, urination, relationships, patriarchal expectations, mental health, queerphobia, death, battle, and sacrifice.    Guest Dr. Moiya McTier is a New York-based astrophysicist who studies planets outside of our solar system. She’s also a folklorist who specializes in using science and logic to build fictional worlds. You can hear all about the worlds she’s built on her podcast, Exolore<span styl

We chat with award-winning science fiction author Becky Chambers! We define space opera, talk about building big worlds without confusing your audience, and creating “cozy science fiction”.   Content Warning: This episode contains conversations about or mentions of colonialism, imperialism, military, environmental disaster, climate change, and ableism.     Guest Becky Chambers is a science fiction author based in Northern California. She is best known for her Hugo Award-winning Wayfarers series. Her books have also been nominated for the Arthur C. Clarke Award, the Locus Award, and the Women's Prize for Fiction, among others. She has two new works coming out in 2021: <a href= "https:/

Ahoy! Is that the return of Sinbad the Sailor? It is! We’re judging the luckiest/unluckiest man in folklore this week, as well as talking about the economics of coconuts and monkeys.    Content Warning: This episode contains conversations about or mentions of xenophobia, drug use, natural disaster, drowning, cannibalism, death, murder, violence against women, illness, being buried alive, starvation, animal death, strangulation, slavery, poaching, and graverobbing.    Housekeeping - Recommendation: This week, Amanda recommends Full Bloom HBO Max - Books<span style="font

Would you eat the cursed Cheez-its? It’s important that we know if you would. Also, we talk about being trained by a ghost on how to be a good adult, and rate some theatre ghosts.   Content Warning: This episode contains conversations about or mentions of death, divorce, fire, religious persecution, illness, organized religion, blasphemy, gore, explosions, racism, and murder.    Housekeeping - Recommendation: This week, Julia recommends Persephone Station by Stina Leicht. - <span style= "font-weight: 400

Here comes the podcast, with its myths like always. We’re covering the origins of the classic, Beauty and the Beast, and decide that if we try, we can all be disembodied himbos.    Content Warning: This episode contains conversations about or mentions of Stockholm syndrome, family abuse, death, imprisonment, institutionalization, illness, misogyny, infertility, birth, marriage, spousal murder, poverty, animal marriage, explosions, unrealistic beauty standards, and arranged marriages.    Housekeeping - Recommendation: This week, Amanda recommends The Upward Spiral

We’re joined this week to talk with author Bethany C. Morrow about her novels, using “speculative” fiction to tell the truth, how Black sisterhood is lifesaving, and decentralizing fantasy and mythology.    A Song Below Water spoilers from 54:33 to 57:02.   Content Warning: This episode contains conversations about or mentions of racism, violence against women, doxing, inciting violence, white supremacy, ableism, self-harm, transphobia, QAnon, doctors/medical treatment, medical racism, death, homelessness, imprisonment/the prison industrial complex, stereotypes, respectability politics, and slavery.    Guest Bethany C Morrow

An episode with a framing device, within a framing device. We’re getting meta here with the One Thousand and One Nights story, Sinbad the Sailor. We discuss whether or not Sinbad is the luckiest or unluckiest guy in the world, his buckwild plans, and befriending eccentric rich guys.    Content Warning: This episode contains conversations about or mentions of xenophobia, death, drowning, infidelity, misogyny, wealth disparity, peril, starvation, cannibalism, and violence.     Housekeeping - Recommendation: This week, Amanda recommends Top Chef: Portland.</sp

Haunted woods, haunted schools, and creepy kids. We’re hitting all of the classics in this Urban Legends episode, including the return of a familiar figure...   Content Warning: This episode contains conversations about or mentions of child death (in proximity to a school), murder, childbirth, death, Covid-19, and insomnia.    Housekeeping - Recommendation: This week, Julia recommends The Good Luck Girls by Charlotte Nicole Davis. - Books<span style="font-weight: 40

Dr. Moiya is back to help Julia channel the gods and give advice to our Conspiriters about science, relationships, and what wild animals to feed. Also, if a crow started talking to you, would you listen?   Content Warning: This episode contains conversations about or mentions of anxiety, toxic relationships, strained parental relationships, divorce, transphobia, birth and pregnancy, ableism, death, hanging, and wild animals fighting.    Housekeeping - Recommendation: This week, Amanda recommends

One trip and one story can change your life, as author Ciannon Smart showed us in this episode. Listen to how her trip to Rose Hall in Jamaica stuck with her for a decade, how she embraced her weird kid energy to learn about vampires and witches, and how it evolved into her debut novel!    Content Warning: This episode contains conversations about or mentions of slavery, murder, religious persecution, military/war, racism, and panic attacks.    Guest Of Jamaican heritage, Ciannon Smart grew up in a small town in the south-east of England. As the only daughter in a house full of boisterous sons, she developed a voracious appetite for reading from an early

They’re mysterious, they’re everywhere, and they’re not quite tall enough to stand up in. This week we explore erdstalls, the completely mystifying thousand-year-old tunnels scattered through Europe. We ask important questions like who made them, what were they used for, and most importantly—would we go into one?! Content Warning: This episode contains conversations about or mentions of claustrophobia, tunnel collapses, suffocation, burials, and death/mourning.   Housekeeping - Recommendation: This week, Amanda recommends Rose Eveleth’s new book Flash Forward.

We chat with author Rena Rossner about her new book, inserting ourselves into historical fiction, the fairy tales of her youth, and looking beyond the golem in Jewish folktales.    Content Warning: This episode contains conversations about or mentions of antisemitism, leprosy/illness, pandemic, conflict/war, bigotry, cultural erasure, and misogyny.    Guest Rena Rossner hails from Miami Beach, Florida. She is a graduate of the Johns Hopkins University's Writing Seminars program, Trinity College, Dublin, and she holds a MA in history from McGill University in Montreal, Canada. Her debut novel, The S

What kind of video games do ghost gamers prefer? What does the hierarchy of sleep paralysis demons look like? Is a ghost with snow pants really THAT scary? Sometimes we’re left with more questions than answers after an urban legends episode!    Content Warning: This episode contains conversations about or mentions of death, descriptions of violence, murder, police violence, blood, death by exposure, animal death, demons/the Devil, drowning, child death, and pandemic.    Housekeeping - Recommendation: This week, Amanda recommends Gold Diggers by Sanjena Sat

We talk a lot about the ghost type of spirits on the show, but what about the liquor kind of spirits? We’re joined by Dr. Hyunhee Park to talk about the global history of the distinctive Korean drink: Soju. Hint: It all comes back to the Mongols.    Content Warning: This episode contains conversations about or mentions of colonialism, conquest and war, disease/illness, and wealth disparity.    Guest Hyunhee Park is an Associate Professor of History at the City University of New York, John Jay College of Criminal Justice and CUNY Graduate Center and author of Soju: A Global History. A native of South Ko

Obviously looks aren’t everything, and with Tatterhood that is absolutely true. This fairy tale is full of twists, turns, and incredible aesthetics. Julia plays folklore sommelier and we ask about The Goat Situation.     Content Warning: This episode contains conversations about or mentions of child abuse, infertility, pregnancy, childbirth, genitals, violence, body horror, decapitation, animal attacks, age differences in relationships, misogyny, parent death, disapperances, illness, theft, animal death, and ableism.    Housekeeping - Recommendation: This week, Julia recommends A Desolation

We’re mixing up statistics and graphs with our creepy children. Typical episode of the show. Also featuring how funeral homes shouldn’t be real homes, our hometown’s Guiness World Record, and the return of the man in the trenchcoat.    Content Warning: This episode contains conversations about or mentions of pets running away, existential crises, trances, destruction of historic sites, death, murder, death by falling, violence against women, implied child abuse, sleepwalking, blackmail, death of a grandparent, and funeral homes.    Housekeeping - Recommendation: This week, Amanda recommends

When you put on a Studio Ghibli film, you don’t expect to be talking about aliens and proto-science fiction in 9th century Japan. But that didn’t stop us! We gush over this retelling of a classic Japanese folktale, and lay out the details of a buck wild Third Act twist.    Content Warning: This episode contains conversations about or mentions of death, infertility, suicide, natural disasters, infidelity, misogyny, strict gender roles, arranged marriage, child birth/pregnancy, deadly falls, unwanted sexual advances, alien abduction, and beheading.    Housekeeping - Recommendation: This week, Julia recommends

We’re joined by author Jess Zimmerman, making her Spirits return, to talk about women and monsters from Greek mythology. We chat Aerosmith music videos, mansplaining, and rant about the lack of allyship from Athena.    Content Warning: This episode contains conversations about or mentions of misgendering, transphobia, sexualization, misogyny, body horror, death, drowning, violence against women, animal death, body horror, death by suicide, menustration, pregnancy, xenophobia, murder, matricide, and rape.   Guest Jess Zimmerman is the editor-in-chief of Electric Literature

Look up at the night time sky. See the moon? Human beings have been doing the exact same thing for centuries, and there’s plenty of moon deities to show for it. So we’re rounding up some of our faves for a truly celestial episode.    Content Warning: This episode contains conversations about or mentions of animal death, pregnancy and birth, virginity, societal misogyny, sex, heteronormativity, genitals, vomit, physical injury, regurgitation, social hierarchy, conspiracy theory, and menstruation.   Housekeeping - Recommendation: This week, Julia recommends The Echo Wife <span style= "font-

The lore of Spirits is expanding with more stories about the man with the trenchcoat and the dog, the origins of the Silent Hill movies, and more terrible choices by college students. Also featuring our love for real life Scooby Doo, the Hot Tall Lady from Resident Evil, and more!    Content Warning: This episode contains conversations about or mentions of Covid-19, bodily functions, nightmares, death, martyrdom, bodily harm, underage drinking/partying, masturbation, domestic neglect, child endangerment, ableism, parent death, alcoholism, burns, natural disaster, mine fires, sinkholes, eviction, immolation, hallucination, arthritis, and grandparent death.    To skip Amanda’s story involving domestic neglect, child endangerment, and disability, go 34:38.    Housekeeping</s

Julia and Moiya are back channeling the gods to give you advice on burning questions! Amanda teams up with a fortune god to give financial advice, we help determine what paths are the best paths, and we learn to love ourselves.    Content Warning: This episode contains conversations about or mentions of sex, relationships, anxiety, war, fire, Covid-19, money/finances, banking and financial institutions, and heteronormativity.     Housekeeping - Recommendation: This week, Julia recommends Harley Quinn on HBOMax<span style= "f

We’re joined by horror and video game connoisseur, Jenna Stoeber, to discuss the Internet’s own version of folklore - Creepypastas. From Candle Cove and Ted the Caver, all the way to the modern day, we chat about the specific ecosystem that allowed them to thrive.    Content Warning: This episode contains conversations about or mentions of suicide, eugenics, cults, racism, abduction, sex trafficking, death, chain letters, body horror, disappearances, teeth, and homophobia.   Guest Jenna Stoeber is a Video Producer at Polygon. She has a Master’s degree in M

We have talked about theatre a LOT over the past five years, so now seems like the perfect time to talk about theatre superstitions! From old classics like the Scottish Play, to some that are totally new to us, we’re talking all things that go bump in the wings.    Content Warning: This episode contains conversations about or mentions of bodily harm/broken limbs, suicide, civil unrest, riots, police and military violence, fire, death, stabbings, gun violence, and Covid-19.   Housekeeping - Recommendation: This week, Julia recommends Cleopatra: A Life by St

Sometimes a story just sticks with you. And in this last installment of Oops! All Urban Legends month, our favorite hometown tales are back and better than ever. Hear the real story behind the Toyota Plant, the return of the Crawdad King, and our favorite named ghost.  Content Warning: This episode contains conversations about or mentions of murder, child endangerment, body horror, animal death, dismemberment, ablism, child neglect, fire/death by fire, colonialism, genitals, and misogyny.   Housekeeping - Recommendation: This week, Amanda recommends <a href= "https://www.hbomax.com/series/urn:hbo:series:GX6BA9wumwpbDwgEAAAA4?utm_id=sa%7c71700000075870710%7c58700006498039836%7cp58736994837&gclid=Cjw

A creepy store, ghost hunting parents, and a small town monster family! These extra long stories deserved their own episodes because they are so JAM PACKED with details to scare and delight.  Content Warning: This episode contains conversations about or mentions of death, bodily remains, xenophobia, demons/The Devil, graves, murder, body horror, organized crime, cultural appropriation, self-harm, fire, curses, and cannibalism.    Housekeeping - Recommendation: This week, Amanda recommends playing some games on your Switch! Her Twitch channel with Eric Silver <span style= "font

Humans aren’t the only supernatural beings and spirits out there - it’s time to feature the pets and animals in our creepy lives! Featuring a cat’s unfinished business, how to create a plant ghost, a horse antichrist, and a ghostly game of fetch. Content Warning: This episode contains conversations about or mentions of animal death, mental health issues, anxiety, cultural appropriation, sexual innuendo, sacrilegious implications, and suicidal ideation.    Housekeeping - Recommendation: This week, Julia recommends A Memory Called Empire by Arkady Martine. Check out

A whole month of urban legends. You read that right. And we’re kicking it off with Second Chances - a series of updates from stories we love, and new tales revisited! We discuss haunted restaurants, hiking mistakes, and guessing the names of ghosts.  Content Warning: This episode contains conversations about or mentions of animal death, pet abandonment, death, fire, bodily functions, threat of physical violence, dismemberment, torture, and animal endangerment.    Housekeeping - Recommendation: This week, Amanda recommends the Bridgerton series <span style= "font-wei

We’re closing out this year with the tale of Chang’e - or rather, the many tales of the Chinese moon goddess. We cry through a musical, blend tales of betrayal and love, and discuss the honesty of grief and moving on, drinks in hand.  Content Warning: This episode contains conversations about or mentions of death, terminal illness, Covid-19, misogyny, murder, abusive relationships, emotional trauma, fire/death by fire, suicide, animal abuse, defecation, and family dysfunction.    Housekeeping - Recommendation: This week, Julia recommends The Grishaverse by Leigh

A year ago, we said we’d have Emily VanDerWerff on to talk about A Christmas Carol, and damn it, we delivered! We talk cozy ghost stories, bringing back the tradition of wrecking the homes of the rich, and how trickle down economics ruined A Christmas Carol.  Content Warning: This episode contains conversations about or mentions of death, social inequality, trauma, Covid-19, capitalism, politics, cultural erasure, religious persecution, and depression.   Guest Emily VanDerWerff is Critic at Large for Vox <span style= "font-weigh

Sometimes we ask a question on this show that simply does not have an answer. And that’s probably for the best. We talk hair-styling witches, flipping haunted homes, and… well you’ll just have to wait to find out.  Content Warning: This episode contains conversations about or mentions of sex, Covid-19, curses, war/violence/conquering, genitals, masturbation, ageism, religious persecution, ableism, “Satanism”, mental illness, death, plane crashes, and injury.   Housekeeping - Recommendation: This week, Amanda recommends Keep Calm and Cook On <span style="

We haven’t gotten existential about death in a while, so let’s talk about past lives! We touch upon the religious and philosophical origins of rebirth and reincarnation, and discuss the modern interest and study of past life regression.  Content Warning: This episode contains conversations about or mentions of death, parapsychology, pseudoscience, child death, religious persecution, war, World War II, colonialism/cultural appropriation, mental illness, scientific experimentation, and racism.     Housekeeping - Recommendation: This week, Julia recommends Gideon the Ninth by Tamsyn Muir<span style="font-we

Bro! Gather round the mead hall, because we’re gonna tell the story of Beowulf, talk the nuance of translation, and gush over warrior queens with author Maria Dahvana Headley.  Content Warning: This episode contains conversations about or mentions of murder, violence, toxic masculinity, misogyny/sexism, rape/sexual assault, and xenophobia.     Guest Maria Dahvana Headley is the New York Times-bestselling author of eight books, most recently BEOWULF: A NEW TRANSLATION (MCD x FSG). <span style= "font-weig

It’s time to turn to the gods for some divine advice. We welcome Moiya McTier back to the show to channel the gods like the oracles of old and answer questions about long distance relationships, working from home, and keeping your plants alive!  Content Warning: This episode contains conversations about or mentions of Covid-19, drug use, self-mutilation, debt, sex, mental health, and relationship problems.     Guest Moiya McTier is a New York-based astrophysicist who studies planets outside of our solar system. She’s also a folklorist who specializes in using science and logic to build fictional worlds. You can hear all about the worlds she’s built on her podcast, Exolore

We’re all over the place in this one, both in terms of content and geography. From Scandinavia to Alaska, we’re questioning your choices left and right when dealing with the supernatural. It’s a feisty one, folks!    Content Warning: This episode contains conversations about or mentions of possession, death, disturbed graves, science experimentation, zombies, violence against women, animal death/butchery, threat of animal attack, pandemic/Covid-19, feces, and curses.     Housekeeping - Recommendation: This week, Julia recommends The City We Became by N.K. Jemi

Right this way! We’ll be your tour guides through the Greek Underworld this episode as we talk about the new game, Hades, as well as the chthonic gods, hot Furies, sleepy lads, and who this Zagreus guy is, anyway.  Content Warning: This episode contains conversations about or mentions of ritual sacrifice, animal death, death, cannibalism, child death, dismemberment, implied drug use, war/battles, misogyny, and guns.    Housekeeping - Follow our beloved Video Game Correspondent Eric Silver on Twitter @el_silvero! - Recommendation: This we

October might be over, but when you’re Mary Shelley, every day is a great day to talk about death. That’s why we were so excited to have guest Rose Eveleth, who walked us through the scientific origins behind Frankenstein and his monster, and the life and times of Mary Shelley.  Content Warning: This episode contains conversations about or mentions sex, misogyny, miscarriage, child death, Covid-19, scientific experimentation, hanging/execution, racism, murder, loss & grief, brain tumor, drowning, and suicide.     Guest Rose Eveleth is a writer and producer who explores how humans tangle with science and technology. She’s the creator of Flash Forward Presents, a

Only on Spirits do we get really into the logistics and philosophy of a Disney Channel Original Movie. We’re talking Halloweentown, and stress that there’s no such thing as witch DNA, and magic should go back to being more democratic.     Content Warning: This episode contains conversations about or mentions of elitism, biological essentialism, religious persecution, societal inequity, and witch trials.     When Did Magic Become Elitist? Hereditary Witchcraft <a href= "https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/are-you-descended-witches-new-digital-document-could-help-you-find-out-180

It’s Halloween month, which means we are breaking out some of the best urban legends in our inbox. Cursed buildings, cursed objects, cursed woods. You name it, we’ve got scary urban legends about it!   Content Warning: This episode contains conversations about or mentions of the USSR, loans/debt, possession, spirit binding, curses, pranks, revenge, death, Covid-19, sacrilegious acts, grave robbing, animal bones, serial killers, family member death, insects/dead insects, and science experimentation.    Housekeeping - Recommendation: This week, Julia recommends the movie, Oculus<span style= "font-weight

Your state might be spookier than you thought. For Halloween, we’re rounding up the scariest urban legends from all 50 states! Listen to find out what state is haunted by a horse, which is haunted by a pickup truck, and which is most likely the plot of a Scooby Doo episode.  Content Warning: This episode contains conversations about or mentions of infancide/child death, abduction, starvation, death, drowning, tuberculosis, anxiety and mental illness, shipwrecks, imprisonment, mind control, colonization, cave-ins, suffocation, beheading, car accidents, striking pedestrians, poisoning, animal death, violence against women, suicide, scientific experimentation, government conspiracy, hurricanes/natural disasters, bullying, teeth, and omens of death.    Housekeeping - <span style=

200 episodes. Wow. We answer your questions, follow up on past episodes, and rate the sexiness of several mythological and folklore beings. Thank you. We couldn’t have done this without you.  Here’s a few of our favorite Orisha dance videos mentioned in the episode: Yemayá, Oshun, and Shango.  Content Warning: This episode contains conversations about or mentions of killing/murder, sex, human remains, spi

Fair warning: This is a butt-heavy episode. Also featuring frequent haunted sleepovers, a wild scooter ride, and why Bluetooth technology is suddenly very cool to us. We also get VERY confused about Kevin Bacon.  Content Warning: This episode contains conversations about or mentions of cemeteries, trances/possession, insomnia, Covid-19, death, earthquake/natural disaster, mild road accident, military equipment, financial recessions, volcanic eruption, institutionalization, eating disorders, and hospitalization.     Housekeeping - Recommendation: This week, Julia recommends the audio fiction podcast, Less is Morgue<span

After making too many jokes about Virgo season, Julia is making it up to Amanda by giving her a tour of the Western Zodiac! We still know too much about Zeus’s love life, but we would buy from Castor & Pollux’s new clothing line if they advertised to us on Instagram.      Here’s the Mixology Astrology chart.  Content Warning: This episode contains conversations about or mentions of sex, depression, abduction, sexual assault, murder/death, animal death, infancide, and attempted suicide.      Housekeeping - Recommendat

Do you hear some otherworldly banjo music coming from the pines? Don’t worry, we’ve brought on author Erica Waters to guide us through her new book, the ghosts of her childhood, and murder ballads. Also humidity? Just ghosts.  Content Warning: This episode contains conversations about or mentions of death, familial death, racism, social/financial inequity, generational trauma, murder, violence against women, implied cannibalism, and death by hanging.  List of murder ballads: - Young Hunting by Sheila Kay Adams - <span

Who would have guessed that Scooby Doo would have us go deeper than Loch Ness itself? Was the Loch Ness Monster just a marketing scheme? And what, exactly, is the definition of cryptid? We’re gonna answer these questions, without terrible Scottish accents.  Pick up Colin Dickey’s book The Unidentified for more amazing insights! Content Warning: This episode contains conversations about or mentions of drug use, drowning, animal/monster attacks, hoaxes in the press, animal remains, Covid-19, and cultural appropriation.    Housekeeping <span

Is your house really energy efficient, or do you have ghosts? What genre do singing sands rock out to? Has this whole podcast been a conspiracy to get Amanda to admit she’s guilty of breaking and entering? Your Urban Legends reveal a lot.  Content Warning: This episode contains conversations about or mentions of anxiety, home invasion, animal death, murder, domestic violence, animal sex, carbon monoxide poisioning, drowning, being buried alive, civil war, dismemberment, and breaking bones.      Housekeeping - Recommendation: This week, Julia recommends the podcast Brimstone Valley Mall<s

Avast! What’s that on the horizon? Unlucky bananas, gold hoop earrings, and sons of guns; it must be sailor superstitions! Trim the sails and come on this voyage with us as we suss out the origins of legends taught to every sailor.  Content Warning: This episode contains conversations about or mentions of death, drowning, misogyny, boating accidents/capsizing, labor violations, funerals/burials, objectification of women, starvation, scurvy, corporal punishment, pregnancy/birth, storms/lightning, and suffocation.    Housekeeping - Recommendation: This week, Amanda recommends the podcast Black in Appalachia</spa

Science and folklore make a wonderful shot and chaser for our guest, Moiya McTier, who is here to regale us with facts about space as she maps the lands of Norse mythology onto our solar system.  Link to The Final Member documentary.  Content Warning: This episode contains conversations about or mentions of suicide, death/afterlife, mental illness, sex organs, planetary destruction, insects/hornets, and war/battles.   Housekeeping - Recommendation: This week, Julia recommends The Fir

The Invisible Man has been scaring us since 1897, but invisibility has been used for nefarious purposes in myths and legends since way before that. Our survey of invisibility spans past centuries all the way to the modern day as we examine what exactly makes invisibility scary—and what might be next. Content Warning: This episode contains conversations about or mentions of mental institutions, gaslighting, abusive relationships, murder, physical and mental abuse, suicide, military industrail complex, stalking, human/medical testing, terrorism, grave robbing, racism, and gun violence.    Housekeeping - Recommendation: This week, Amanda recommends the podcast <a href= "https://www.stitcher.com/podcas

We’re raising some important questions because of your urban legends: Do you have a cursed bloodline? What kind of TikToks are ghosts into? Why is Florida so spooky? We don’t promise we have all the answers, though.  Content Warning: This episode contains conversations about or mentions of chronic pain, grandparent death, animal/pet death, grief, and depression.     Housekeeping - Recommendation: This week, Julia recommends the Youtube channel, Pasta Grammar. Check out our previous book recommendations, guests’ books, and more at <a href="http://spir

What if your house was legally haunted? The Ackleys of Nyack, New York had to deal with just that. We look into the legal precedent of paranormal activity, real estate hauntings, and ask the question: At what point is it worth it to own a haunted house?  Content Warning: This episode contains conversations about or mentions of legal disputes, racism, The Confederate Flag, slavery, violence against indigenous people, death, capitalism, real estate, and haunting.      Housekeeping - Recommendation: This week, Amanda recommends subscribing to Nicole Cardoza’s Anti-Racism Daily newsletter

We are joined by Kamuela Kaneshiro of Legends from the Pacific, who gives us the lowdown on the spiritual and paranormal stories of Hawaii. Kamu shares his first hand accounts with the Night Marchers, and his own paranormal investigations.     Content Warning: This episode contains conversations about or mentions of murder, gender dynamics, incest, urination, war/battle, blood, and human remains.    Guest Born and raised in Honolulu, Hawaii. Kamuela or “Kamu”, is an Asian Pacific Islander geek, and storyteller. He began podcasting in 2004 with the weekly three-hour radio show/podcast, “Off the Air’s: Geek Nation”. “Legends from the Pacific<

Don’t have sex, camp counselors. Because Jason can sniff out horniness like a bloodhound. We discuss the history of the unlucky Friday the 13th, Jason’s journey through the franchise, and how Hollywood created its own urban legends.  Content Warning: This episode contains conversations about or mentions of death, murder, stalking, hanging, electricution/struck by lightning, unwanted sexual advances, drowning, sex/sex-shaming, transport/travel accidents, burning/fire, ableism, animal death, and dismemberment/beheading.    Housekeeping - Donation: Please join us in donating to the National Bail Funds at <span style="font-weight: 400;

Have you ever thought about what a ghost tastes like? We sure have now! We rank the five senses of hauntings, bemoan a secret bathroom, and yell about how breath should ALWAYS be hot because of your urban legends!    Content Warning: This episode contains conversations about or mentions of death, excrement/feces, fire, child endangerment/death, blood-sucking/vampirisim, sickness, death of spouse, possession, trances, and seizures.    Housekeeping - Donation: Please join us in donating to the National Bail Funds at http://secure.actblue.com/donate/bail_funds_george_floyd <spa

Who’s a good boy?! Apparently, there’s a lot of good pups across the world and throughout history. Julia takes Amanda and Eric on a tour of the best dogs of mythology as part of the Boston Museum of Science’s Virtual Happy Hour series.  Find the slideshow for this episode here!  Content Warning: This episode contains conversations about or mentions of death, hell, murder of women and children, ear disease, beheading, disease/plague, natural disasters, war, imprisonment, dismemberment, animal attack, and impli

Episode Description: We’re joined by the ever insightful Amanda LeDuc this episode to talk about the portrayal of disability in fairytales. Join us as we look at stories like Snow White and The Little Mermaid through her lens, and get inspired by Amanda’s recommended resources on learning more about disability and advocacy. Content Warning: This episode contains conversations about or mentions of ableism, body mutilation, death, suicide, and Covid-19.   Resources: Leigh Bardugo’s Six of Crows duology <a href= "https://di

You probably know that Guillermo del Toro was inspired by The Creature from the Black Lagoon, but do you know what inspired that? We’re here to discuss the origin of our favorite Gill-Men, the party where that would lead to the Creature, and a couple of other Fishmen that might have laid the groundwork.  Content Warning: This episode contains conversations about or mentions of gun violence, espionage, the Cold War, misogyny (in the workplace), racism, homophobia, enslavement, colonization, body mutilation, family member’s death, drowning, exorcism, interrogation, and HP Lovecraft.    Housekeeping - Donation: Please join us in donating to the National Bail Funds at <a href= "http://secure.actblue.co

It’s Urban Legends time! We share your family ghost stories, visit a very beautiful/creepy mannequin in Mexico, and learn the reason why The Devil refuses to visit Wales.  Learn more about Devil’s Bridge Falls at devilsbridgefalls.co.uk, and check out photos of La Pascualita and the obituary Amanda quoted at spiritspodcast.com/your-urban-legends-35 Content Warning: This episode contains conversations about or mentions of death/obituaries, dolls/mannequins, animal endangerment (but no death), ouija boards, car accidents, murder/missing persons, the death of parents/loved ones, and axe-murde

We’re looking for redemption as we play, once again, FACT OR FICTION with Chuck Games aka Eric Silver. Have Amanda and Julia learned anything from doing Spirits for so long? Don’t worry, whoever wins gets all of their bad feelings taken away!  Content Warning: This episode contains conversations about or mentions of inappropriate game show hosts, depression, gender essentialism, dieting/eating disorders, military industrial complex, Catholicism, feces, murder/patricide, and Sea World.    Housekeeping - Recommendation: This week, Amanda recommends Beach Read by Emily Henry. Julia recommends <a href= "https://headg

Sometimes we take advantage of the beers in our fridge and the booze on our shelves. Thanks to future brewmaster Katrina Pfieffer, we got to learn not only the science behind brewing, but also the history and mythology of the process!  Content Warning: This episode contains conversations about or mentions of college/school, food waste/spoilage, gendered work, Christopher Columbus, war/battle, mobsters/tax evasion, and alcoholism (http://drughelpline.org/).    Housekeeping - Recommendation: This week, Julia recommends The Mermaid, The Witch, and t

The Godzilla and Kaiju movies are inextricably linked to a lot of difficult topics, but we have cocktails in hand and we feel ready to talk about them. Learn about the history of the Big Monster movies, the funny 70s franchises, and how Godzilla can teach us all a lesson about how to better talk about environmentalism.    Content Warning: This episode contains conversations about or mentions of nuclear war/bombs/explosions, environmental fascism, terrorism, anxiety, radiation poisoning, the military industrial complex, kidnapping, fire/volcanoes erupting, death, corporate greed, and politics/elections.   Housekeeping - Recommendation: This week, Amanda recommends the <a href= "https://bookshop.org/

Time to put down the Switch, stop playing Animal Crossing, and listen to some urban legends. We’ve got squatters rights for ghosts, toddlers toddling, and the spookiness of corroborating evidence. Beat that, turnip prices!     Content Warning: This episode contains conversations about or mentions of natural disasters, child death, panic attacks, blood, accidental cannibalism, descriptions of violence, and threat of animal attacks.    Housekeeping - Recommendation: This week, Julia recommends The Rise and Fall of the Dinosaurs: A New History of their Lost World by Stephen L. Brusatte! Check out our previous book recommendations, guests’ books, and more at <

It’s another game of Creepy or Cool? And because we played in Texas, our two teams have to determine whether a series of GIANTS are either big ol’ creeps or the coolest things we’ve ever seen.  Play along at home!  Content Warning: This episode contains conversations about or mentions of cannibalism, natural disasters (tsunamis, earthquakes), drug use, drowning/shipwrecks, fire/burning, funerary rites, improper burial, and dehydration.     Housekeeping - Recommendation: This week, Amanda recommends Emily Go

Supernatural is one of the longest running Monster of the Week shows on TV, and with that much content, we need an expert. Thankfully, Supernatural’s own Meghan Fitzmartin joins us to talk about the cosmology built over 15 seasons, what it’s like writing for television, and finishing something you love. Content Warning: This episode contains conversations about or mentions of hell/demons/damnation, threat of violence, famine, death (and resurrection), and child endangerment.    Housekeeping - Recommendation: This week, Julia recommends Itaewon Class on Netflix! Check out ou

We’re suggesting a new title for Jason and the Argonauts—really, it should be Medea and the Himbos. This week’s movie is the 1963 edition of Jason and the Argonauts, followed by a deep dive into the original Greek telling (thanks, Edith Hamilton!). Content Warning: This episode contains conversations about or mentions of child endangerment/murder (there’s a lot of this), drowning, starvation, death, dismemberment, grief, poisoning, and fire/burning.   Housekeeping - Recommendation: This week, Amanda recommends No Bad Ideas<span s

We’re asking a lot of questions during this Urban Legends episode. Would you adopt a ghost kid? Which is scarier, corporeal or incorporeal? And can you predict the weather with PopTarts? Tune in to hear those age old questions and more! Content Warning: This episode contains conversations about or mentions of train crashes, robbery, potential child endangerment, and hurricanes/blizzards/storms.    Housekeeping - Recommendation: This week, Julia recommends The Ghosts of Eden Park by Karen Abbott! Buy a copy and see our new lists of previous recommendations, guest books, and more at <a href= "http://spiritspodcast.

Sure, we talk about mythology all the time, but what if we talked about mythology AND architecture AND science? So we’re diving deep on gargoyles to find out how they went from architectural necessities to living creatures in folklore! Content Warning: This episode contains conversations about or mentions of age-inappropriate crushes, religious influence, murder, fire/burning, sexual assault, and incarceration.   Housekeeping - Recommendation: This week, Amanda recommends Rebecca Solnit’s Recollections of My Nonexistence! Buy a copy and see our new lists of previous recommendations, guest books, and more at <a hr

This week we’re joined by Jeannette Ng, who is kind enough to walk us through the multitude of Mulan stories that span centuries. We discuss cross-dressing in Chinese literature, the political influences of the story, and Mulan’s importance in the Chinese diaspora. Content Warning: This episode contains conversations about or mentions of cannibalism, war, nationalism, death, suicide, child death, patriarchy, misogyny, social discord/political movements, and sickness/illness.   Guest Jeannette Ng is originally from Hong Kong but now lives in Durham, UK. Her MA in Medieval and R

We all need a little bit of escapism in times like this, so we’re taking a voyage under the seas to examine the Tom Hanks movie Splash, and how we see mermaids in media. We also ask the very important question: How would a mermaid ride a dolphin?  Media mentioned in this episode: The Mermaid, the Witch, and the Sea by Maggie Tokuda-Hall The Deep by Rivers Solomon <a href= "https://www.miragrant.com/books/into-the-drowning-deep/"

We’re back, we’ve got cider, and we’re telling your creepiest and coolest stories. Featuring stories about why you don’t talk trash about witches, our spinoff law podcast, haunted road trip, horses haunting homes, and the return of Team Ignorant.  Content Warning: This episode contains conversations about mentions of suicide, invasion, witch trials and executions, doctor malpractice, unjust laws, family massacres, animal abuse (21:16-21:42), and unexplained medical conditions.  Housekeeping - Recommendation: This week, Julia recommends Harpy Hour Podcast!

Just in time for Purim we’re joined by Eliana Morris, who gives us a primer on the holiday’s story, feminist themes, and celebratory traditions. Also featuring a lot of Disney references, some of the best Purim spiels we’ve ever heard, and more than a few mentions of The Bachelor.  Content Warning: This episode contains conversations about inequality in relationships, misogyny, virginity as a construct, execution/hanging, anti-Semitism, religous persecution, mentions of abuse, attempted sexual assault, and mention of mass shooting.   Guest Eliana Morris recommends you check out your local Jewish Federation! Find the one closest to you at jewishfederations.org <span style= "font-weight: 400

Julia has come up with the most scientific way of calculating who the coolest cryptid is: a tournament style bracket! While she brings the challengers, it’s up to Amanda and Editor Eric to determine, once and for all, who the coolest cryptid is.  Play along at home with our bracket at spiritspodcast.com/episodes/coolest-cryptid Content Warning: This episode contains conversations about sleep disorders, threats of violence, kitchen accidents, animal death, death by animal, drowning, STIs, drug use, child abandonment, eating disorders, gambling, alcoholism, and mentions of misogyny and implied sexual assault.    Housekeeping - <s

You would think that the horror movie version of a Grimm Fairy Tale would be the scariest version, but you would be wrong. We examine the original story of Hansel & Gretel, talk about the moral quandaries of famine, and dive into the origins of Amanda’s favorite Grimm adaptation: Into the Woods. This week, Amanda recommends Something That May Shock and Discredit You by Daniel M. Lavery. Buy a copy and see our new lists of previous recommendations, guest books, and more at spiritspodcast.com/books! Grab tickets to our Austin TX live show at <a href= "http://mu

30 is the sexy one, 31 is the light hearted one. That’s what everyone says, right? Also featuring recalibrating your creepy-meter, just some casual human bones, the Bobcat Goldthwait of the imagination, and more! This week, Julia recommends Killing Gravity by Corey J. White. Grab tickets to our L.A. live show at multitude.productions/live!   Our episodes of Hannahlyze This! Scary - It’s What We Like and</spa

Join us as we take a dip in to the beautiful broth that is Mothman (we’ll explain what that means, we promise). From the first reported sightings, to the work of Gray Barker and John Keel, and Mothman’s enduring legacy, we break down the story of West Virginia’s own Mothman.  This week, Amanda recommends Get a Life, Chloe Brown by Talia Hibbert. Grab tickets to our L.A. live show at multitude.productions/live!   Point Pleasant Register, Point Pleasant, WV, Wednesday, Nove

We’re joined this week by Celticist, teacher, and musician Sharon Paice MacLeod who provides a beautiful, nuanced primer for Irish Cosmology. We discuss the Maiden-Mother-Crone, music in Celtic lore, keening, and Brigid’s cross.  This week, Julia recommends Dooku: Jedi Lost.  Content Warning: This episode contains conversations about religious persecution, child death, monarchy and political power structure.   Guest Sharon Paice MacLeod is a Harvard-trained Celticist, grant funded researcher, teacher and author. She is also a professional vocalist and musician, specializing in Celtic

Since we’ve watched Amanda’s favorite vampire movie, it seemed like a good time to submerge ourselves in all things vampire. We touch on the vast history of vampire folklore and tradition, then dive into some of our favorite examples of vampire media.  This week, Amanda recommends Blood, Bones, and Butter by Gabrielle Hamilton and Burn the Ice by Kevin Alexander.  Content Warning: This episode contains conversations about suicide, death, physical assault, child endange

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First it’s spooky. Then it’s sexy. That’s right, it’s our THIRTIETH Your Urban Legends special! Hear all about menacing cows, ghost crushes, and a very VERY sexy Mothman. Join the MultiCrew for just $5 at multicrew.club! This week, Julia recommends Magic for Liars by Sarah Gailey. Content Warning: This episode contains conversations about death, haunting, temporary paralysis, hallucinations, home invasion, night terrors, mention of a car accident, and discussion of sexual fantasies including explicit sexual language (final 13 minutes of the episode).    Sponsors</st

The internet’s newest favorite Pokémon game has real-life mythological origins, from its towns and cities to the wild new Pokémon making their debut in Sword & Shield. Join us to learn about new horrifying fossil animal mashups, Viking forest cats, and why the Weald isn’t just a Galar thing.  This week, Amanda urges you to donate to the Fire Relief Fund for First Nations Communities. Thanks to Eric Silver for suggesting this episode! Content Warning: This episode contains conversations about hauntings, demons, household mischie

Vampires, werewolves, and aliens, oh my! We’re joined this week by the incomparable Emily VanDerWerff to talk about her book, the Monster of the Week genre, and the horror genre. We discover Emily’s love for A Christmas Carol, Emily breaks a cardinal vampire rule, and make a LOT of horror recommendations.  This week, Amanda recommends Jane Harper’s mystery thrillers and Well Met by Jen DeLuca. Content Warning: This episode contains conversations about diseases, body horror, death

Did we use a cheesy Christmas movie as an excuse to talk about ghost stories and haunted houses during Christmas time? We sure did. Amanda and Julia both brought the research this episode, talking about the tradition of telling ghost stories around Christmas and how hauntings are way less romantic that Hallmark would make you believe.  This week, Amanda recommends The Repair Shop on Netflix. Content Warning: This episode contains conversations about murder, complications with childbirth, death, undead/revenants, mental illness (“driven mad”), animal death, possession, and  If you’d like to read more of the articles we quoted, you can fin

Does your college campus scare you? After these urban legends, it just might. From a scene straight out of Poltergeist (1982) to a university with SEVERAL haunted bathrooms, we think it might be time to consider whether your campus ghosts should be filling out a FAFSA form.  This week, Julia recommends Dimension 20 - The Unsleeping City on Dropout. Check out Join the Party at jointhepartypod.com/start, and grab tickets to our Boston live show at <span style=

After years of doing Spirits, Julia is once again putting Amanda to the test to see what she’s learned. This time, Amanda must decide whether a mythological story ends in a Trick or a Treat with the help of our Witches Three: Eric Silver, Mike Schubert, and Brandon Grugle. This week, Amanda recommends Over the Top by Jonathan Van Ness. Conten

Have you ever wanted to ask your local forest witch a question? Enter “Ask Baba Yaga” and Taisia Kitaiskaia. We talk with the wonderful author about her process of channeling the Slavic folklore character, how she grew up with the story, AND one lucky Conspiriter gets their question answered by Baba Yaga! This week, Julia recommends The Red Threads of Fortune by JY Yang.  Content Warning: This episode contains conversations about heavy subjects like existentialism, abuse, Soviet Russia, loneliness, and death.    Guest - <span

We’re revamping our Myth Movie Nights by revisiting a Spirits favorite - selkies! We’re doing a deep dive (get it?) into the Celtic stories of ‘Song of the Sea,’ featuring: summer stones, storm hags, where a selkie coat comes from, and being kind to yourself.  This week, Amanda recommends Goliath by Matt Stoller.  Content Warning: This episode contains conversations about death/disappearance, drowning, animal death, implied emotionally abusive relationships, birth and birth complications, loss/grief, and mental health struggles.     Sponsors - <span st

This episode became a debate over an important topic: do you ignore the ghosts or confront them? In this accidental case study we discuss the problem with mirrored closets, spooky home renovations, Shorts Ghosts, and the decision to just… go to sleep when ghosts come to call. For the record, 75% of you are Team Ignorance. This week, Julia recommends Bring it On, Ghost! Aka Hey Ghost, Let’s Fight. You can check out our new studio and read how we built it in this blog post<span style= "font-wei

This story seems like we lifted it straight out of a fanfiction or a long-running anime, but the story of Jacheongbi is so incredible, it had to be replicated. Friends to lovers, trials and tribulations to win back your love, but a shocking amount of good communication?? All this and more!    This week, Amanda recommends Gods of Jade and Shadow by Silvia Moreno-Garcia and the podcast, Witch N Bitch.  Content Warning: This episode contains conversations about childbirth, fertility issues, colorism, rape, cross-dressin

We’re joined by author and fabulist (our new favorite word) Carmen Maria Machado as we delve into the stories and urban legends that inspire her, how video games and relaxing TV are more in depth than we’d imagined, and her favorite biblical insult.   This week, Julia recommends “Sisters of the Vast Black” by Lina Rather. You can also get our new beanie, plus tons of new Multitude merch, at multitude.productions/merch Content Warning: This episode contains conversations about hypochondria, urban legends surrounding contamination/infection, AIDS/HIV, chil

Live from the Bell House, Julia is putting on her game show crop top and hosting CREEPY OR COOL - a game where you guess if a creature is, well… creepy or cool. It’s like friendship! But where someone wins! Check out our INSTAGRAM for the slides from this episode!  This week, Julia recommends The Lighthouse. Amanda recommends the Reluctant Royals Series (again).  Content Warning: <s

For Julia, nothing says Halloween quite like Hocus Pocus. For Amanda... she’s never seen it. Shocker. We dive into the Salem-inspired Disney Halloween classic, fall in love with Binx, question how a musical number could happen, and dream of a New England Halloween.  This week, Julia recommends Folk Magic and Healing by Fez Inkwright. Content Warning: This episode contains conversations about kidnapping, child endangerment/death, hanging, burning, animal death, sexual harassment, and mind control.    Sponsors - Ski

We ask important questions with these hometowns. Are all ghosts just pranksters? How much spooky stuff has to happen to create A FAMILY LORE? Rediscovering a ghost son, the spookiness of bad infrastructure, an accusatory phone call, and thankfully, a palate cleanser.  This week, Amanda recommends Trick Mirror by Jia Tolentino Content Warning: This episode contains conversations about surgery, dental/tooth discussion, health care, drug use, burning, drowning, suicide, strangling, implied sexual assault, drunk driving, car accidents, cult/cult suicide, death, and gaslighting.    Sponsors - <a hr

Break out your ghost detectors and specter-o-meters. Because we’re talking about HAUNTED DOLLS this week! Julia breaks down the historical links to the haunted dolls of today, and then lays out some of her favorite unique examples to scare Amanda.  This week, Julia recommends the new podcast Passenger List! Content Warning: This episode contains conversations about child death, car accidents, possession, and systematic racism.    Sponsors - Calm is the #1 app to help you reduce y

Amanda’s childhood dreams come true as we’re joined by award-winning author Garth Nix. We learn how Nix creates magical worlds, hear his top tips on writing, throw some shade at Tolkien, and chat about his new novel Angel Mage. Remember: The answers are within us.  This week, Amanda recommends the Reluctant Royals series by Alyssa Cole.  Content Warning: This episode contains conversations about death and religious institutions.   Guest - <span style="font-weigh

A review of Scooby Doo on Zombie Island was too wild to do on our own - that’s why we invited Eric Silver along on this wild tale of a talking dog, voracious hungers, and a completely confusing climax.  This week, Julia recommends Community, all of which is available on Hulu.  Content Warning: This episode contains conversations about racism, the Civil War, death, cultural appropriation, slavery, and colonization.    Guest - Eric Silver is the Dungeon Master of Join the Party <span

We run the gambit of hauntings this episode - haunted pennies, haunted frat houses, haunted bathrooms, and far too many haunted AirBnBs for us to stay at in the future. Julia and Eric argue the merits of Scooby Doo and Ghostwriter. Amanda rethinks her recent move.  This week, Amanda recommends  Content Warning: This episode contains conversations about war, shootings, child death/ghosts, and mention of home invasion.    Sponsors - Stitch Fix is an online personal styling service that finds and delivers clothes, shoes, and accessories to fit your body, budget, and lifestyle. Get started at <a href= "http://stit

  You might know Thor from mythology, Marvel movies, and comic books. But do you know how these various versions compare? This week, Julia walks us through the origins of Thor’s mythology. Then we sit down with the incredible comic historian Lorraine Cink to talk about the god’s transition into the world of Marvel.  Get tickets to our Boston show now! And, get ready to get nerdy as you help us decide the future of Spirits and Multitude by taking the 2019 Multitude survey. This week, Julia recommends To Be Taught, If Fortunat

The only thing we love more than a farmers market is, you know, the whole human project of agriculture. Hallie Casey and Catherine Arjet from One to Grow On introduce us to some of their favorite gods and goddesses of agriculture! In this house we stan Demeter, gardens, hospitality, and community-oriented storytelling. And remember, #agricultureispraxis. This week, Amanda recommends Make New Mistakes from Mischief Media (and her episode, #5: The Bro Mistake!). Content Warning: This episode contains conversations about food creation and consumption, climate change, hu

We didn’t really know what we were getting ourselves into this Myth Movie Night. Amanda and Julia watch Princess Mononoke for the first time, cry a whole lot, and talk about how we need to be better to our environment. Is lipstick evil? Or just a sign of modernity? Who can say?  This week, Eric recommends Climate Grief from Philosophy Tube.  Content Warning: This episode contains conversations about violence, climate change, animal death, hunting, warfare, and gun violence.  Sponsors - Skillshare <

This week, we discuss The Unquiet Dead - Slavic spirits who cannot rest peacefully in death. Amanda proposes spring is the most haunted season. Julia yells about how you can’t control birds (or bird husbands!). Long leg, long neck, head cat...can’t lose?   This week, Julia recommends My Hero Academia.  Content Warning: This episode contains conversations about suicide, drowning, child death, sexual harrassment, sexual intercourse, blood, beheading, and some body horror.  Sponsors - Doordash <span styl

This episode is chock full of summer camp ghosts, haunted schools, and too many cemeteries. Eric makes too many ranch dressing related jokes. Julia becomes incredibly jealous of a ghost hunting club. Amanda is once again confused by narwhals.  This week, Amanda recommends the Essex County Trilogy by Jeff Lemire.  Content Warning: This episode contains conversations about food, Manifest Destiny, starvation, animal death, death, animal attacks, hanging, and institutional racism.  Sponsors - Skillsh

This week, we’re joined by author, podcaster, and cook, Julia Turshen, who tells us about the familial folklore of her family’s history with baking. We talk about how bread baking is matriarchal, dough starters as a connection to the past, and the romance between a miller’s son and a baker’s daughter, Check out the first round of Head Heart Gut by joining the MultiCrew! This week, Julia recommends Space Opera by Catherynne M. Valente.  Content Warning: This episode c

We’re breaking into some 90’s CGI and inaccurate Egyptian mythology with this week’s Myth Movie Night - The Mummy! We stan Brendan Frasier, gush over Rachel Weisz, poke holes in plot, and remind you that “no harm ever came from reading a book”. Check out the first round of Head Heart Gut by joining the MultiCrew! This week, Amanda recommends The Proposal by Jasmine Guillory. Content Warning: This episode contains conversations about racism, suicide, mummification, d

Your stories are full of lessons, this episode. Including he milestone of giving spooky prophecies, a queer dream icon, that Capstone class you take to learn how to excorcise a demon, and taking a moment to consider why you keep winding up at haunted places. Check out our newest show by joining the MultiCrew! This week, Julia recommends Schitt’s Creek, available on Netflix.  Content Warning: This episode contains conversations about surgery, bodily functions, death by fire, exorcision, suicide, gaslighting/hazing, cancer/drowning/heart attack reference,    Sponsors</strong

Oral tradition got a little bit more ridiculous with the introduction of Fearsome Critters in Americana folklore. As we dive in, Amanda comes up with her own Roman senator names, we fall in love with a drunk cactus cat, and a reminder: You’re not a squonk. We’re proud of you. This week, Amanda recommends Normal People by Sally Rooney. Content Warning:  This episode contains conversations about gaslighting/hazing, deforestation, colonialism, death, cultural appropriation, and depression.    Sponsors - Stitch F

Caroline Crampton has spent more than six years thinking about the Thames River. We’re so excited she joined us to talk about the river’s history and folklore! Featuring “more recently, the Middle Ages,” the Angel of the Thames, and the pilgrims’ version of the pressed penny. This week, Julia recommends the Join the Party one shot episode Goat Party (with Lauren Shippen). Content Warning:  This episode contains conversations about sacrifice (human/animal), stabbings, espionage, drowning, and flooding.   Sponsors <span style="font-weight: 400;"

Sure, we’ve covered Krampus before, but we wanted to see him in ACTION with the 2015 film Krampus. A family finds out the dark true meaning of Christmas, and learns about the sacrifice of giving, while getting terrorized by Christmas accoutrement. This episode also ends with Amanda yelling, “That’s the true snowglobe!” so you know it’s gonna be good. This week, Amanda recommends Red, White & Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston. Content Warning: This episode contains conversations about gun violence, death, child endangerment, and animal death.   S

We got our pre-live show jitters out of the way by scaring each other with your urban legends! Featuring a WILD trip to a mountain in the Philippines, possibly the creepiest clown story we’ve ever told on the show, and a story that might have inspired Pet Semetary.  This week, Julia recommends River of Teeth by Sarah Gailey.   Content Warning: This episode contains conversations about blood, injury, leeches, home invasions, clowns, child endangerment, fire/burning.    Sponsors - <span s

Listen, we know you ALL probably have opinions on Game of Thrones but let’s focus on the important part: DRAGONS! We discuss the differences between various dragons around the world and decide we definitely want to learn magic, become a dragon, and get revenge on an ex. This week, Amanda recommends Good Omens on Amazon Prime Video. Content Warning: This episode contains conversations about religious conversion, death/murder, and imperialism.   Live Show Get tickets to our Bell Hou

Every Hero’s Journey has to come to an end eventually. We invited Christopher Dole to tell us five tales of heroes who lived their best lives and how they ended. Also featuring marrying beautiful giants and our Wishbone Fancast. This week, Julia recommends a classic, The Golden Compass. Content Warning: This episode contains conversations about death, mentions of rape, and mentions of incest.   Guest Christopher Dole is a podcaster and co-creator of Arden P

Harry and the Hendersons, OR A Man Comes to Terms with His Toxic Masculinity by Adding a Cryptid to His Family, OR What If We Were the Monsters All Along? We have some very existential thoughts about an 80’s bigfoot romp, but really, would it be a Spirits episode if we didn’t? This week, Amanda recommends All My Relations. Content Warning: This episode contains conversations about guns, hunting, fad diets, and tense parental relationships.   Live Show Get tickets to our Bell House performance NOW at multitude.productions/l

If you’ve come across these field recordings from the Spaghetti Warehouse, it means that we didn’t make it. Or we did, and had some fun. But before we head to Spaghetti Warehouse in the second half of the episode, we coin the term “SCAPEGHOSTS,” hear a PSA about quitting that spooky life, and discuss how we’d deal with a shadow in our bedrooms. This week, Julia recommends WWE’s Money in the Bank PPV and the wrestler Naomi’s fantastic Bumblebee-inspired ring gear. Content Warning: This episode contains conversations about mob-related murder and subpar chain Italian food.   Live Show Check out our

Get ready for us to ruin your childhoods as we break down some of the creepy origins of your favorite pocket monsters. We talk Pokémon team naming conventions, the moral conundrum of eating baby-faced fruit, and how we’re always horny both for and by the ocean. This week, Amanda recommends Infinite Noise by Lauren Shippen. Content Warning: This episode contains conversations about possession, starvation, natural disasters, & genital mutilation.   Links Discussed Kitsune possession</spa

We’re joined this week by author Chelsea G. Summers to talk about the different forms of cannibalism throughout history, as well as patriarchy, misogyny, aging, and questioning what culture dictates. Be hungry, horny, and satisfied. This week, Julia recommends Dead to Me, now available on Netflix. Content Warning: This episode contains conversations about homicide, cannibalism, mental illness, violence against women.   Guest You can follow Chelsea G. Summers on her</span

It’s another Myth Movie Night. Grab your moonshine, break out the passport, and start up your VHS player. We’re visiting London in the classic 80s horror film, An American Werewolf in London. DON’T GO OFF THE ROAD. We’re serious. This week, Eric recommends Monstrum, a new show from PBS studios that looks at humans’ unique drive to create and shape monster mythology through oral storytelling, literature, and film. It digs deep into the history of those mythologies, and we think you’d love it! Content Warning: This episode contains conversations about suicide, self-harm, gore, death, and mental health. (<span style= "font-weight: 40

If this episode seems familiar, it’s because you’ve heard it in a dream before (or you’re a precog. It’s gotta be one of those). So you’ll probably remember that we talk about haunted toys, guess the capital of Australia, and chat about the most socialist werewolf you’ve ever met. This week, Julia recommends the historical fiction podcast Harlem Queen.   Sponsors - Stitch Fix is an online personal styling service that finds and delivers clothes, shoes, and accessories to fit your body, budget, and lifestyle. Get started at <a href= "http://stitchf

This Passover, Eric Silver joins us to tell the story of the Jewish holiday and leads us through the Seder with all its mandatory cups of wine. He explains why Moses was clearly the first telling of the Hero’s Journey, sings “When You Believe” like an angel, and doesn’t forget to serve the ghost. This week, Amanda recommends Jewish Literacy by Rabbi Joseph Telushkin, as well as Go Ahead in the Rain: Notes to a Tribe Called Quest by Hanif Abdurraqib.   Guest - Eric Silver is the Dungeon Master of <a href="http://jointhepar

We’re not letting society dictate to us what it means to be a woman - we’re taking a leaf out of Isis’s book. We explore all of the aspects of this layered Egyptian goddess, from her roles in motherhood and magic to universality and more! Also featuring sad falcons, Queer Eye, and the world’s tiniest Pegasus. Grab your tickets to PodX at http://multitude.productions/live ! This week, Julia recommends Santa Clarita Diet.   Sponsors - Calm is the #1 app to help you reduce your anxiety and stress and help you sleep better. Get 25% off a Calm Premium subscription at <a href= "http://c

Wrestlemania is this SUNDAY SUNDAY SUNDAY, and Editor Eric has been dying to talk about the mythos of his favorite wrestler of all time, The Undertaker. Even if wrestling isn’t your thing, we think you’re going to enjoy the journey of how the Deadman went from wrestling mortician to a leader of his own cult of the undead. It’s a modern hero’s journey. Just, with more piledrivers.   This week, Julia and Amanda recommend you check out Bored Ghost. They both guest starred in the two-part Rusalka game.   Videos referenced in this episode: <span style="font-we

This episode is full of scary stories and too many children having to camp. You have been warned. We also learn about the importance of doing your research on a haunting, wonder why ghosts are creepier when they can run, and debate the Reese’s Peanut Butter brand of products. This week, Julia recommends The X-Mas Mistake, a cursed Hallmark Christmas movies podcast.   Sponsors - Honeybook is a purpose-built business management platform for creative small businesses. Get 50% off your first year on HoneyBook.com with code SPIRITS. - Skillshar

And now for something a little different: we revisit Disney’s classic 1997 film Hercules! Unlike when we were 5, we now have plenty of booze in hand to explore what Disney got right and got wrong with Greek mythology. We review how the 90s were a WILD time, play 20 questions of Zeus fuckery, and realize the past is probably FULL of bad smells. This week, Amanda recommends seeing Captian Marvel (then reading lots of good good fic!)   Sponsors - Care/Of: Get 50% off your first month of personalized vitamins with code SPIRITS50 <span style="font-wei

  We’re getting meta in this episode featuring Internet Linguist Gretchen McCulloch. Learn why names are important not only in mythology and folklore, but in our own lives (including online lives!) as well. Also featuring the Amanda Sins Podcast, a podcast within a podcast, so many throwbacks to the 90s, and what kind of kids did the Bloody Mary thing at sleepovers. This week, Julia recommended CARAVAN and Windfall.   Guest - Gretchen McCulloch is an internet linguist: She analyzes the language of the internet, for the people of the internet. You can visit her <a hr

We’ve all heard of the Loch Ness Monster, but what about all of the other lake-dwelling creatures? We do a deep dive (Get it? Because lake monsters?) into what lurks in the deep around the world. Hear about the motivation of monsters, what our ideal Thai supernatural soap opera would look like, and our hypothesis on ocean vs. lake creatures.   Amanda’s recommendation this week is the podcast, Just Break Up.    Sponsors - Chegg is a leader in online study assistance. For $5 off your first month’s subscription, go to chegg.com/SPIRITS and use the promo code SPIRITS. <spa

This episode is coming at you straight from our live show at the Listen Up Festival in Portland, OR. We shared some of our favorite listener-submitted hometown urban legends to a sold-out audience in the basement bar of the Hoxton hotel. Featuring a liminal fae town where time doesn’t exist, creepy haunted buildings of Napa Valley, and Eric attempting to defend his childhood sleepwalking. Julia recommends Unwell this week - a Midwestern gothic audio fiction podcast.   Sponsors - Skillshare is an online learning community where you can learn—and teach—just about anything. Visit <a

We’re back this week to finish out the story of Gilgamesh! We discuss grief and then journey with Gilgamesh to the land of the dead, which features She-Ra references, befriending crows, and the ending to Little Shop of Horrors. We also remind you: Choose joy.   Eric’s recommendation this week is the His Dark Materials series.   Sponsors -Calm, the #1 app for meditation, mindfulness, and sleep. Get 25% off a Premium subscription at calm.com/spirits - Stitch Fix</a

The story of La Llorona is so much more than that trailer you keep seeing with Linda Cardellini. We invited podcast critic Elena Fernández-Collins to tell us a little bit about La Llorona, the historical figure that might have inspired the tale, and her own personal experiences with the spirit growing up in Puerto Rico. We also talk about the strange rules to get into heaven, government influence on the stories we tell, and why you should never yeet your children.   This week Amanda recommends Fabrizia Italian Limoncello Margharitas. Elena recommended Cocotazo Media and <span style= "font-w

If you haven’t heard of or read the Epic of Gilgamesh, it has EVERYTHING. Kings, gods, epic monster battle, prophetic dreams, and more. But it also has surprising friendships, bad advice, and enough parallels to Frankenstein for Amanda to get use out of her literature degree. Join us as we talk about Gilgamesh’s dating profile, cocktails for when you’re visiting the realm of the gods, and a bull’s butt. This week, Julia recommends the new Netflix show Russian Doll.   Sponsors - Mrs. Fields - Get 20% off your order of Valentine’s Day treats with promo code SPIRITS <span styl

Lots of hauntings in this episode. So many. Haunted castles, haunted mirrors, haunted… punch bowls? Also featuring a hot air balloon accident, an influx of priests, and our own version of The Bee Movie.   This week Amanda recommends Object Lessons by Bloomsbury.   Sponsors - Calm, the #1 app for meditation, mindfulness, and sleep. Get 25% off a Premium subscription at calm.com/spirits - Skillshare is an online learning community where you can learn—and teach—just about anything. Visit skillshare.com/spirits2

We’re rounding up some of the most interesting Brazilian mythological creatures. From chaotic good tricksters, to snakes that just want to be left alone, to headless mules that are definitely on fire, there are some great stories this week. And remember, gotta take the stink with the wish.   Sponsors -The dark fantasy TV show Siren returns on Thursday, January 24th at 8 p.m. on Freeform! Be sure to watch! - Stitch Fix is an online personal styling service that finds and delivers clothes, shoes, and accessories to fit your body, budget, and lifestyle. Get started at <a href=

Our good friend Andrea is BACK, this time to lead us through a history of cross-dressing in mythology and folklore. We tackle stories from ancient Greece, Norse mythology, Chinese poetry, and beyond! We also chat about disaster bis, make too many puns and portmanteaus, and debate how best to cut a bagel. And remember: Never Sleep.   Julia’s recommendation this week is The Cryptonaturalist.   Guest Andrea Lam is a writer and actor. Follow her on Twitter @AndreaNLam!   Sponsors -The dark fantasy TV show <a href="https://freeform.go.c

This week, Julia decided to give us all a history lesson. We’re talking about The Benandanti - a group of witches from Northern Italy. We’ve got fennel stalks, we’ve got primary source accounts, and we’ve got discussions about how you can make your community just a little bit better.   Sponsors - Calm, the #1 app for meditation, mindfulness, and sleep. Get 25% off a Premium subscription at calm.com/spirits - Stitch Fix is an online personal styling service that finds and delivers clothes, shoes, and accessories to fit your body, budget, and lifestyle. Get started at <span style= "font-

Disclosure: We might have been creepy kids as children. We wanted to let you know because it’s the creepy cool LAW. We also learn not to trust your house ghosts, talk about spooky friendship goals, the weirdest summer trip EVER, and why “lock ins” are just the creepiest form of sleep over.   Amanda recommended this week the podcast, Working Sunday!   Sponsors - Lola, providers of organic cotton tampons, pads, liners and more. Use code spirits to get 40% off any of their flexible subscriptions at mylola.com. - Skillshare is an online learn

We’re all out enjoying the holidays, but we also wanted to celebrate with you! So we did a quick round up this week about a bunch of different ways the Winter Solstice is celebrated around the world. We got recipe ideas, talked about death and darkness a lot, and talked about poetry. Y’know, all the Spirits classics.   Sponsors - Audible, the best place to get audiobooks and more. Go to audible.com/spirits or text spirits to 500-500 to start your free trial and redeem your free audiobook. This week Julia recommends Spoonbenders by Daryl Gregory.</spa

How would you like to hear a story about... all of the stories? It’s time to learn about Anansi, the trickster figure of Western Africa and the African diaspora. We share a couple of classic Anansi tales, including how the world got stories, how Anansi (accidentally) shared wisdom with the world, and one featuring, of course, death. Our recommendations this week are Cinnamon & Gunpowder, DisneyWar, & Black Culture and Black Consciousness<span styl

What would you put up with for free frozen yogurt or a great apartment? If the answer is “ghosts”, we’ve got the episode for you! It’s another round of your urban legends, including all of the haunted house stories we could squeeze in. We recommended this week Good Company, The Haunting of Hill House, and Customs Out of the Closet.   Sponsors - Calm, the #1 app for meditation, mindfulness, and sleep. G

We take you to Bali to talk about the widow witch, the demon queen, Rangda! We discuss her different forms, the story of how she came to be, and some really beautiful poetry. As always, fight the patriarchy!   Sponsors - Skillshare is an online learning community where you can learn—and teach—just about anything. Visit skillshare.com/spirits to get two months of Skillshare Premium for $0.99! This week Julia recommends The Fundamental of Magic Tricks. - Mrs. Fields is your destination for fresh-baked holiday gifts. Get 20% off your order of any gift when you go to mrsfields.com and enter p

We’ve got our good friend Lisette on to talk about what the living tradition of witchcraft means to them! Bonus points as we talk about how witchcraft varies around the world, how we all want to fight Zak Bagans in the parking lot of Spaghetti Warehouse, and how we can all better serve our communities!   Guest Lisette is a podcaster and writer. You can follow her at @LisetteWalking and find her show at https://www.kalilastormfire.com/   Sponsors - Backblaze is your source for unlimited cloud backup for Macs and PCs at just $5/month. Sign up for a 15-day free trial at <a href= "ht

After 100 episodes of Spirits, we wanted to welcome in a new age. And what better way than with the Hindu god of beginnings, Ganesha! We dive into the stories of how Ganesha was born, how he got his elephant head, and how he became the remover of obstacles.   Sponsors - Shaker & Spoon is a subscription cocktail box that brings world-class cocktails into your kitchen once a month. Get $20 off your first box at http://shakerandspoon.com/spirits - Skillshare is an online learning community where you can learn—and teach—just about anything. Visit skillshare.com/spirits to get two months of Skillshare Premium for $0.99! This w

This week’s roundup, we chat about several haunted schools and camps, have some grandma stories creep out and inspire us, and hear Eric’s first hand account of a recent tarot reading! Check out Happy Leather Goods Co at http://bit.ly/happyleatherco!   Sponsors - Honeybook is a purpose-built business management platform for creative small businesses. Get 50% off your first hear on HoneyBook.com with code SPIRITS. - RXBAR is a whole food protein bar. Get 25% off your first order at <span style= "font-weigh

Today may be Halloween, but it’s also another special day - the first day of Día de los Muertos! We’re joined by special guest, Trina Espinoza, who tells us about the history of the holiday, the different ways it’s celebrated across the Americas, and her own personal experiences with The Day of the Dead growing up!   Guest Trina Espinoza is also known as msbeautyphile, and runs a Youtube web series dedicated to demystifying beauty, cosmetics, and personal care products. You can subscribe to her channel, follow her on <span style= "font-weight: 400

We’ve done it. 100 episodes. And to celebrate, we are tackling our most requested topic: The Fae! We touch on several different fae stories from across Europe, have some revelations about Santa Claus and business schools, and find out why the Grimm Brothers weren’t just fucked-up grandpas. Sponsor - Skillshare is an online learning community where you can learn—and teach—just about anything. Visit skillshare.com/spirits to get two months of Skillshare Premium for $0.99! This week Julia recommends Knitting I: Learn the Basics with a Simple Scarf!- Calm, the #1 app for meditation, mindfulness, and sleep. Get 25% off a Premium subscription at <a href=

What are you most afraid of? Chances are there’s a horror movie about it! That’s why we’re diving headlong into the history of horror films, from their inception in 1890 all the way to our present! Featuring decapitations, yelling about ‘genre’, and a surprise special guest! FLASKS! TEES! NEW SPIRITS MERCH! Check it out at spiritspodcast.com/merch   Sponsor - Honeybook is a purpose-built business management platform for creative small businesses. Get 50% off your first hear on HoneyBook.com with code SPIRITS. - Stitch Fix is an online personal styling service that finds and delive

We asked for restaurant hauntings and y’all DELIVERED! Featuring haunted Italian restaurants with paintings that need to be burned ASAP, UK pubs with something scary lurking in the basement, and a Massachusetts bar with a secret taken TO THE SPIRIT WORLD. We also got to chat with Chris Mullins about the long, slightly haunted history of McGillin’s Olde Ale House in Philadelphia! If you’re ever in Philly, make sure to check out McGillin’s Old Ale House for a nice beer and some ghosts! Catch a sneak peek of the NEW MERCH on our Patreon page. You can also get tickets to our

Halloween is a time to face your fears. And Julia is making Amanda come along with her as she faces one of her biggest fears: clowns. Learn why we’re afraid of clowns, who started the “killer clown” trope, and where the killer clown sighting phenomenon comes from.   Sponsor - Calm, the #1 app for meditation, mindfulness, and sleep. Get 25% off a Premium subscription at calm.com/spirits - Audible - Go to audible.com/spirits or text spirits to 500-500 to start your free trial and redeem your free audiobook. This week Amanda recommends <sp

Sometimes, you just want to sit down and have your friends tell you scary stories. Luckily, we have Paul Bae of The Big Loop and The Black Tapes to tell us some of his best stories. Featuring Mr. Bae’s “Hour of Horror”, a haunted Toys R Us, and many stories that remind us why we will never go into the woods on our own again. Catch a sneak peek of the NEW MERCH on our Patreon page! You can also get tickets to our LIVE SHOW at Brooklyn Horror Film Festival!   Guest Paul Bae is a writer and podcaster. You can f

Marriage is a hot topic in Julia’s life, which is why we’re talking about Izanami & Izanagi - a marriage that helped create the world, introduced death into it, and definitely isn’t one to emulate. Including the happy-ish tale of Ebisu, Trinitite, and Amanda’s tea recommendation. You can also get tickets to our LIVE SHOW at Brooklyn Horror Film Festival!   Sponsors - Stitch Fix is an online personal styling service that finds and delivers clothes, shoes, and accessories to fit your body, budget, and lifestyle. Get started at stitchfix.com/spirits for 25% off when

Let’s get right to it: This episode has EVERYTHING. Eric attempts to do an old timey voice. Julia freaks out over a Blair Witch style game. Amanda denies playing Pokemon in movie theatres. All in all, we deliver some of the most buckwild stories to date, including the Bunny Man Bridge, mistakes in masonry, and better ways to cure your ghost coyote infected loved ones.   You can also get tickets to our LIVE SHOW at Brooklyn Horror Film Festival!   Sponsor - Calm, the #1 app for meditation, mindfulness, and sleep. Get 25% off a Premium subscription at calm.com/spirits <span style="font-we

We’ve looked into the future and we’ve seen… a roundup episode! Julia leads Amanda through the foggy future with some of her favorite divinatory practices. Also featuring rock kids, on-the-spot D&D character creation, our Pro-Onion Podcast, gelato-filled veins, and letting the universe surprise you.   Sponsor RXBAR: Get 25% off your first order at RXBAR.com/spirits by entering promo code “spirits” at checkout!   Find Us Online If you like Spirits, help us grow by spreading the word! Follow us on Twitter, <span style= "

We are joined this week by David Rheinstrom, who helps us parse through the history of fakelore in the USA! How do we feel about Paul Bunyan being invented to sell lumber? Does it make him any more or less a part of American folklore? Also featuring amazing accents, Olsen Twin movies, and just wayyyy too many puns!   Amanda recommends this week The Changeling by Victor LaValle.   Guest David Rheinstrom is on Twitter @IcarusFloats. Do yourself a favor and follow him to hear some great stories!   Sponsor <p

This week, we take a trip back to the Pacific to tell the story of Madame Pele, the Earth-Eating Woman, and Hawaiian goddess of volcanoes. We chat about mythology as history, the cutest names in mythology, the history of hula hoops, and how you can find some hair of the goddess whenever a volcano erupts.   Sponsor Stitch Fix is an online personal styling service that finds and delivers clothes, shoes, and accessories to fit your body, budget, and lifestyle. Get started at stitchfix.com/spirits for 25% off when you keep your whole box!   Find Us Online If you like Spirits, help us grow by spreading the word! Follow us on <span style= "f

Not only do we have listener stories, we have the tale of Tim the Yowie Man! This episode features big cat stories, Mirror Boys, and elementary school blood magic. Then we switch to an interview with Tim, chatting about how he became a cryptonaturalist, his first encounter with the Yowie, and his love for finding mystery in the world. Help us learn more about you at spiritspodcast.com/survey!   Guest Tim the Yowie Man is a cryptonaturalist, travel writer, and environmentalist. You can follow him @TimYowie or check out his website, <span st

Hurrian, Hittites, and Anatolia, oh my! We look at the story of the goddess, Šauška, who spread her influence throughout the world. We also talk about veggie divination, World War II espionage, our favorite drunk snacks (and how they’re not frogs), and what impression we’ll leave behind in the world once we’re gone.   Sponsor Audible - Go to audible.com/spirits or text spirits to 500-500 to start your free trial and redeem your free audiobook. This week Julia recommends The City of Lost Fortunes by Bryan Camp.   Find Us Online If you like Spirits, help us grow by spreading the word! Follow us

It’s Shark Week, but we’re not here for shots of Great Whites (mostly because we’re an audio medium). We’re joined by Melissa Marquez, who specializes in the intersection of shark folklore and conservation. We chat about making scientific education accessible, human infested beaches, and what a shark-filled Big Brother house would look like!   Guest Melissa Marquez is the founder of The Fins United Initiative and hosts the Spanish language podcast, ConCiencia Azul, which interviews Spanish-speaking marine scientists, conservationists, grad students, photographers, and more from around the world. You can find out more at her <span style= "font-weight: 400;

This is it. The lost, cursed episode of Spirits. We never thought it would see the light of day. But now you get to learn about all the CREEPY HORSES FROM AROUND THE WORLD. Amanda guesses a lot of stuff wrong, but embraces her fear of creature hybrids. Julia breaks out some poetry and the most horrifying horse creatures known to man. Y’know, the usual stuff. Check out the newest Multitude show, HORSE, in any podcast app, at horsehoops.com, or on Twitter @HORSE_Hoops.   Sponsor R

It’s the Witching Hour 24/7 here at Spirits Headquarters, especially when we’re reading your creepy cool stories! This episode features high levels of Spooky Boys, Eric’s existential crisis, cats that say hello, our desire to visit all the haunted restaurants in the world, ROAD TRAINS??, and our disbelief at business naming in Ohio. Remember, stay creepy, stay cool, and stay… pasta?   Sponsor Skillshare is an online learning community where you can learn—and teach—just about anything. Visit skillshare.com/spirits to get two months of Skillshare Premium for $0.99! Our favorite Skillshare classes: “Think Like a Chef: A Beginner's Guide to Cooking with Confidence” and “DIY Clay Sculpting.”   <p

It’s summer and it is TOO HOT, but it doesn’t mean we’re not grateful for the seasons. So we’re talking about the seasonal Irish goddesses, Brigid & Áine! We cover late-night booty calls, perpetual flames, SWORD NAMES, and terroir—but for people. There’s nothing like summer in the city, or in this case, Ireland.   CW: This episode contains some discussion about sexual assault.   Find Us Online If you like Spirits, help us grow by spreading the word! Follow us on Twitter, Facebook, <span style= "font-weight: 4

We are joined by Adal Rifai of the amazing Hello From the Magic Tavern podcast to chat about improv, Dungeons & Dragons, talking badgers, hungry ghosts, manticores, and more! We also cover creepy grandma vocab, Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark, deer man, and the Hog King & Queen, and make about a hundred jokes along the way.   Guest Adal Rifai is an improviser with Whirled News Tonight and Revolver, as well as one of the stars of the amazing Hello From the Magic Tavern. You can find him on twitter @adalrifai or as Chunt at @chuntttttt<span style=

Summer is finally here, which means one thing: BEACH BABES TIME! We’re celebrating with a roundup of the best mermaids and fish folk the world has to offer. From buff mermaid moms to outcast mermaid communities to the types of mermaids that prevent disease and bring long life, we’ve got it all! Also featuring reflections on human sacrifice, crushing on wrestlers, and our favorite moments from Alan Menken movies.   Find Us Online If you like Spirits, help us grow by spreading the word! Follow us on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram</s

You send them, we read them, everyone gets scared! This week we dive into stories about creepy kids, kids being creeped on, young blood, full ghost names, and-- what’s that? A THIRD SPAGHETTI CHALLENGER HAS APPEARED? Mostly, we’re starting to wonder… is spaghetti haunted?   Sponsor Skillshare is an online learning community where you can learn—and teach—just about anything. Visit skillshare.com/spirits to get two months of Skillshare Premium for $0.99! Our favorite Skillshare classes: “The Hitchcock Method” <span style=

That’s right, we’re heading BACK TO THE PHILIPPINES! We chat about creation myths, supreme deities, and more importantly, the badass women goddesses of Tagalog religion. Amanda creates a brand new dance move that is sweeping the nation, Julia gushes over her love of etymologists, and Amanda admits her late-in-life cloud revelations. Julia’s cocktail this week was inspired by the Ocean Mist.   Sponsor Huge thanks to Shaker & Spoon for creating our Legend Patron boxes! Check them out and sign up for a box of your own at http://shakerandspoon.com/spirits.   Find Us Online</p

Happy Pride! We’ve invited our friend Andrea back to do a revamp of our FlameCon panel from last year, discussing myths and legends from around the world that subvert gender norms! We chat about how you should never trust your Trickster God to make a business deal, being invested in snakes’ love lives, Hedwig and the Angry Inch, and #myfavoritearse.   Guest Andrea Lam is a writer, publicist and actor. Follow her on Twitter @AndreaNLam!   Sponsor Audible - Go to audible.com/spirits or text spirits <span

Take a moment and picture this: You’re hanging out, minding your own business, when suddenly the sky opens and a Dark and Mysterious Woman emerges riding a flaming phoenix. Yeah, we’re also super impressed. Which is why we love the story of Jiutian Xuannü! We dive into the stories of the goddess, what our wrestling personas would be, crave some Cinnabon, plan a zoo trip, and have a lot of fun with phrases like “invisibility ability” and “physiological cosmology”. All this, and more, in episode 79!   Make sure to check out The Noir and Bizarre, an original podcast coming out of WYPR, Baltimore’s NPR Station. Host Katie Marquette examines weird and creepy history, surreal film and fiction, and strange folklore.   Find Us Online</p

A hell dimension was opened, and once again, we go off the rails in this week’s Your Urban Legends! We battle over who deserves the title King of Crawdads, discuss the misleading aspects of the Air Bud franchise, debate which version of the Grinch is scariest, and attempt to save Editor Eric from a bad case of the beer sweats. Also, there’s some creepy stories in there. Just wait until you hear about Kimberly.   News clipping from Remus for Eric’s first story.   Sponsor Sunday Scaries. Visit forsundayscaries.com and use code “spirits” for 10% off your order! <p

We’re joined this week by Finnish podcaster, Elena, who shares the story of Kalevala - an epic tale of magic, trickery, heroes, and just… a lot of failed marriages. We talk about the ultimate Finnish Fanfiction, singing as magic, the Devil’s Zoo, magical saunas, and how sometimes you have to take one for the team if it means world peace. We have the full cast of characters for this episode, plus music and art that Elena recommends, on our Patreon!   Guest You can follow Elena on Twitter @elena_varg, and listen to her podcast, Kuin Ananas ja Kookos (a podcast in F

We love a Bigfoot story, but we’re going across the world for this one! The Australian Yowie has a lot of great stories; from backwards feet, ancient wars, and just wanting a beer from your garage, we bring you through the ins-and-outs of one of Australia’s most popular cryptids. Also featuring some Star Wars fact-checking, Victorian naturalist slamming, and our newest friend, Tim the Yowie Man.   Find Us Online If you like Spirits, help us grow by spreading the word! Follow us on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram<span sty

Welcome to Fake or Folklore, the game show sensation that’s SWEEPING the nation! Hosted by Charles the Gamesman, aka Eric Silver of Join the Party, Amanda and Julia are put to the test to see if they can parse actual folklore from a morass of weird stuff from Eric’s brain, the internet, and beyond! The best part is, you can play along at home—download your scorecard on our Patreon. The Scientology

It’s GRANDMAS GRANDMAS GRANDMAS. All the grandmas! From demon grandmas in Texas, motivational ghosts (You Only Ghost Always), to helpful anti-murder spirits. We also debate the habitat for Ghost Charizards, ask if you have to pay finders’ fees for ghosts, and enjoy some Ohio color commentary from Editor Eric. Then we all cried over Amigo, the Stone Dog. #stonedoggo   This week’s recommendation corner: Potterless, Waystation, Join the Party, and <span style="font-weight: 400;

This week, we get excited about religious traditions and physics, which is… on-brand for us. Julia teaches Amanda about the Orishas of the Yoruba tradition with the help of liminal spaces, our Ocean Mom, your own personal deity, and reflections on third culture kids.   Sponsor Talis Clothing makes gorgeous shirts inspired by astrology, divination, and psychic protection. Get 15% off your order at bit.ly/spiritstalis by using code SPIRITS at checkout!   Find Us Online If you like Spirits, help us grow by spreading the word! Follow us on <span styl

We thought we knew all about Tolkien and Middle Earth. We were WRONG. Guest Emma Sherr-Ziarko (Wolf 359, Pairing Podcast) schools us on the creation of the world, the Silmarillion, and all its intricacies. We talk about how eagles are apparently better than wolves, the goddess of empathy and sorrow, the reason music is so legit, silver fox elves, and sooooooo much more. Seriously, this is a buckwild episode.   Guest You can find Emma Sherr-Ziarko on Twitter @TheGreatDilemma and acting as Commander Renée M

This week, we cover things that Amanda loves: angels, organization, and of course, so many eyes. Just. All the eyes. We wax poetic about how the Fast and Furious franchise is clearly an act of God, comment on how Latin is nearly always better untranslated, and ask what the deal is with sceptres, really?   Sponsor RXBAR: Get 25% off your first order at RXBAR.com/spirits by entering promo code “spirits” at checkout!   Find Us Online If you like Spirits, help us grow by spreading the word! Follow us on Twitter<spa

Your stories this week were buck WILD. From fires and the mafia, to demon hunting internships, and secret government projects with some secret cannibalism, we are on a wild ride this episode. Julia wants to adopt a heck pupper. Eric decides he definitely doesn’t want to have a creepy kid. Amanda believes that electricity is caused by demons. All this and more in Your Urban Legends.   Sponsor Talis Clothing makes gorgeous shirts inspired by astrology, divination, and psychic protection. Get 15% off your order at bit.ly/spiritstalis by using code SPIRITS at checkout!   Find Us Online If you like Spirits

We know how numbers work - we embrace the sex number, talk about succu-kisses, sleep paralysis, demon chinchillas, and where to draw the line when it comes to bird claws. Amanda gives in to the demon offering her shrimp, while Julia plans on how her demon form would trap men in her web.   Sponsor Talis Clothing makes gorgeous shirts inspired by astrology, divination, and psychic protection. Get 15% off your order at bit.ly/spiritstalis by using code SPIRITS at checkout!   Find Us Online If you like Spirits, help us grow by spreading the word! Follow us on <a href= "../item_id/twitter.com/spirit

Hollywood: Stars and Glamor, but also murder and curses? It’s more likely than you think. We’re joined by audio drama creator, James Oliva, to do a deep dive into the urban legends and spooky happenstances of Hollywood and the movie industry. Featuring William Shatner as the virtuous hero(???), why an incubus should be called a dudeubus, and the story of James Dean, Lesbian Icon.   Content warning: discussion of death, suicide, sexual assault, domestic violence, homicide, and motor vehicle accidents. If you are looking for support around any of these topics, visit rainn.org or text/call the Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 800-273-8255.   <

This week, we break down the Maya creation story, as told by the Popol Vuh and learn that actually, the fourth time's the charm. Amanda asks the important questions, like why did the gods create humans, and would you still love her if half her skin was gone? Julia has an existential crisis about babies and marriage, and tries to come up with some ideas for monkey sociology.   Sponsor - RXBAR: Get 25% off your first order at RXBAR.com/spirits by entering promo code “spirits” at checkout!   Find Us Online If you like Spirits, help us grow by spreading the word! Follow us on Twitter<span style= "fon

YULE LADS, ASSEMBLE! It’s time for some ridiculous and spooky tales that you, our listeners, have sent to us. Amanda asks you to adopt a phantom feline, Julia tries to explain away questionable Girl Scout trips, and Eric discovers that there is a lot of licking in Icelandic folklore. Read more about the Edinburgh kirkyard here.   Find Us Online If you like Spirits, help us grow by spreading the word! Follow us on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram<span style= "font-we

Take a journey down to the underworld with us and our new favorite goddess, Inanna. Listen to how the Queen of Heaven got her start, got a man, got killed... then came back. Also featuring incorrect Shakespeare quotes, the androgynous demon aesthetic, and SO MUCH MUSIC FROM OKLAHOMA. Hear Amanda’s cover of “The Raven” on the Our Fair City tumblr.   Find Us Online If you like Spirits, help us grow by spreading the word! Follow us on Twitter, <span style= "font-we

We are joined by the amazing Vanessa Zoltan of Harry Potter and the Sacred Text to talk about personal mythos, secular sacred reading, and of course, wives in attics. Enter Spoiler Alert Central with us as we dive into the nitty gritty of Charlotte Brontë’s classic novel, learn why a short engagement is ALWAYS a red flag, hear about the weirdest scene in all of literature, and tell you why beeswax and white vinegar are all you need to clean your mansion.   Guest Vanessa Zoltan can be found on Twitter @vanessamzoltan. Listen to Harry Potter and the Sacred Text on Acast, Apple Podcasts, or any other podcast app. Subscrib

WARNING: Don’t listen to this episode while hungry, because these stories are utterly delicious. We travel the world in this roundup, giving you stories of how Capitalism ruins everything, how not to serve your guests by vomiting, our favorite corn recipes, and just what positions we would play in Quidditch.   Find Us Online - patreon: http://patreon.com/spiritspodcast - twitter: http://twitter.com/spiritspodcast - facebook: http://facebook.com/spiritspodcast - instagram:</span

This has gone on long enough. We’re getting our Eric back! Featuring Kristen DeMercurio as the Spagghost. Series written by Eric Silver.   Find Us Online If you like Spirits, help us grow by spreading the word! Follow us on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram

We reach out to a secret contact in Akron, Ohio—Amanda’s cousin Chad. Featuring David Rheinstrom as Chad. Written by Eric Silver.   Find Us Online If you like Spirits, help us grow by spreading the word! Follow us on Twitter, Facebook, <span style= "font-weight: 400;"

We are on the road to Ohio, so we cut together some of your spooky experiences inside the spaghetti-belly of the beast. Featuring Sara, Mike Schubert, Jake Song, Wil WIlliams, Paul M., Chris P., Alex Brown, <span style= "font-weigh

A ghost stole Eric and we need an expert, stat. Luckily we got in touch with the greatest ghost academic in the city (who would agree to an interview in less than 24 hours). Featuring Danielle Shemaiah as Dr. Halström. Written by Eric Silver.   Find Us Online If you like Spirits, help us grow by spreading the word! Follow us on Twitter, Facebook, <span style= "fo

This week, we read up on Ouija boards and try one out in Amanda’s apartment. What can go wrong?   Find Us Online If you like Spirits, help us grow by spreading the word! Follow us on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, & <span style="font-weight: 40

This week, we read some first-person accounts about the Deer Woman, a spirit in several indigenous North American cultures that punishes the wicked and protects women. We discuss imperialism, weird rules in fairy tales, the flaws in studying history, and how the woods seems (depends on where you’re at). Read the first-person accounts we reference and many more: The Lakota Deer Woman, Mythic Passages, Deer Woman: An Anthology<span style="

Spread out the deck and think about your intentions. You flip a card. Jokes ensue. We’re joined this week by cleanliness expert and Tarot lover, Jolie Kerr, who navigates us through the basics of Tarot, the history of the cards, and some Church Intrigue. Meanwhile, we joke about the supernatural skill of playing Bridge and Mahjong, the cards talking shit about your friends, and how the Rosetta Stones solved all problems.   Guest Jolie Kerr can be found on Twitter @joliekerr. Listen to Ask a Clean Person on Acast<span style= "font-

Sometimes on Spirits we get stories that just have everything - action, monsters, romance, actual history, and empowering depictions of women. The story of Lạc Long Quân and Au Cơ is one of those lucky legends we’ve stumbled upon. We discuss amicable conscious uncoupling, Pokemon inspiration, Taco Bell’s new stolen slogan, and rage against (certain) Shakespeare productions. And hey, remember, you ARE the box.   Sponsor - RXBAR: Get 25% off your first order at RXBAR.com/spirits by entering promo code “spirits” at checkout!   Find Us Online - patreon: http://patreon.com/spiritspodcast <p

You sent us some great stories this week: protective women spirits, murderous otters, toe-crunching bear grannies, and so many more! Amanda explains what the ideal ghost roommate would be like. Julia pitches an article series on accidentally dating cryptids. Eric grapples with what it would be like to have a ghost host. We all argue over horrifying ways one can incorporate chicken legs into your look. Thanks to Audible for sponsoring us this week. Get your free book and 30-day trial at audible.com/spirits or by texting Spirits to 500-500. Do let us know if you read <span style="font-weight:

What’s that? AMANDA is leading an episode? It’s the gift that keeps on giving—and naturally, we go full nerd. We talk linguistics, Julia gets some stuff right (and wrong), Amanda has breakfast in bed with the Oxford Dictionary, you discover what a plowie is, and we all realize that language isn’t always an exact science. Check out Waystation on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your pods. We’re also @WaystationPod on Twitter, <a href= "http://facebo

The Arthurian Canon is sacred to some people—so you know we’ve got a lot of jokes about it. We dive into the nitty gritty with special guest Christian Madera as we talk about why self-insert fanfiction is questionable, even in the Middle Ages; how OT3s can solve all problems; how freaky historians can get; and why “whiskey” is a word that transcends language. You can find Christian online at Once and Future Nerd, and on Twitter and Tumblr! The fabulous <span style= "font-weight: 40

Winter is here, and with it blows the cold wind of something spooky. We tell the sad tale of the Yuki-onna, a spirit of a woman who froze to death in the icy cold, who comes back seeking the warmth that will destroy her. We spin a tale of Amanda’s future bed & breakfast, redefine what a terrible Hallmark card would be, talk pre-blizzard strategies, and more! (Contains discussion of recovery from trauma and abuse.) Thanks to Tab for a Cause for sponsoring us this week. Grab the extension and start earning for charity at tabforacause.com/spirits If you like Spirits, help us grow by spreading the word! Follow us on Twitter, <a href= "facebook.com/spiri

Spaghetti Warehouse makes its return, along with some spaghetti conspiracies. Grandpa comes back with a Bloody Bones follow up. A fan from Shropshire tells us why they avoid wearing hoodies. We learn never to look a gift camel in the mouth. And, as always, we get freaked out by the creepy stories you’ve got. Our sponsor this week is StoryBlocks, which gives you high-quality stock images, video, and vectors for a fraction of the cost. Check out storyblocks.com/spirits to start your free 7-day trial, and tweet us the best stock image you can find out of the 400,000+ they have to offer! If you like Spirits, help us gro

Bundle up from the cold as we tell you some of our favorite stories from Inuit mythology. We tell the relatable story of how a woman goes from a horrible marriage and overbearing father to being the queen of the sea and underworld. Then we dive into the land where the spirit and human worlds are blurred, and shapeshifters lurk among us. Featuring conquering mountains, kawaii children snatchers, motivational fish posters, and more! Thanks to Tab for a Cause for sponsoring us this week. Grab the extension and start earning for charity at tabforacause.com/spirits! If you like Spirits, help us grow by spreading the word! Follow us on Twitter<span style=

We’re busy cooking and prepping for family coming into town, so our good goofy friends volunteered to take over the podcast for the week! Even if you don’t love basketball (just don’t tell Mike), we know you all love a good conspiracy theory. So stick around for sweet burns on our hosts, how many envelopes fit on the head of a needle, Yu-Gi-Oh Heart of the Cards-ing things, and why EVERYONE should love Space Jam. The video of the ~fixed~ draft is here. Find Eric Silver on Twitter @el_silvero and @JointhePartyPod. Mike S

You’ve heard us mention Zeus, but today you’re going to know why we consider him the Fuckfather of all Fuckboys. We talk about how Hera’s just doing her job, how Homer kept grudges like a forlorn high school senior, long cons like Ocean’s Eleven, and more! To sum things up, toxic masculinity sucks. Content Warning: Discussion of sexual assault. If this is a topic you’d like support about, head over to http://rainn.org to learn about free resources available to you. We are supported this week by Storyblocks. Sign up for their triple bundle offer of unlimited downloads from their Member Library of stock images, audio and video for just $149 at http://storyblocks.com/spirits

We’re back with another round of your Urban Legends! From werewolves to werepanthers to haunted trolleys, we have a few drinks and happily stumble through some of the creepiest things that have happened to our listeners. Also featuring a Haunted Trolley Problem, why possession is the same as a concussion, and how old timey people got it on. If you like Spirits, help us grow by spreading the word! Follow us on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, <span style="font-weight:

#Creeptober might be over, but that doesn’t mean we’re done telling scary stories. Driving along the dark highways on the border of the United States and Mexico, keep your eye on the sky. You never know when La Lechuza will swoop down out of the darkness. We also chat about the evils of colonialism, the transfer of matter in magic, pitch a horrifying spin off to Spirits, and tell more owl stories from around the world. Our sponsor this week is StoryBlocks, which gives you high-quality stock images, video, and vectors for a fraction of the cost. Check out storyblocks.com/spirits to start your free 7-day trial, and tweet us the best stock image you can find out o

Just in time for Halloween, we’re delivering some of the creepiest college ghost stories we’ve ever heard. With Jeffrey Gardner of Our Fair City fame leading the haunted tour through Kenyon College urban legends, we discuss the best practices in surviving haunted places or for rushing a frat, pitch a Roman Mars/Bruno Mars ghost podcast, and let you know why you should never go to estate sales. Find Jeffrey Gardner on Twitter @OFCRadio. Catch up on the excellent show Our Fair City in any podcast app or at ourfaircity.com. <p

There’s something in the distance, coming closer. Blood is in the air. You know what that means—it’s time to get drunk and talk about Ancient Egypt! This week’s episode covers the goddess of war and intoxication, Sekhmet. We talk about balance in the world and in our lives; Julia schools Amanda on the hierarchy of lion prides; and we create a mythologically themed beer! Learn more about Assassin’s Creed: Origins at bit.ly/spiritsac! If you like Spirits, help us grow by spreading the word! Follow us on Twitter, Facebook<span style= "font

We’re telling your creepy stories this week! From haunted theatres to farms and rivers to something called a Dinglehole, we bring you listener stories that made us giggle and gave us goosebumps. Listen as we come up with band names, discuss haunted rooms in our high school, and reveal how Amanda definitely misunderstood the premise of Field of Dreams. Huge thanks to Shaker & Spoon for sponsoring us this week! Check them out and sign up for a box of your own at http://shakerandspoon.com/spirits If you like Spirits, help us grow by spreading the word! Follow us on Twitter, Facebook<span style= "font-weight:

Let’s face it - from Irish changelings to the creepy twins in the Shining, humankind has found kids to be super creepy for generations. This week, Julia rounds up the creepiest stories about the spookiest kids to start off #creeptober, while Amanda shows her hand at how few horror movies she’s seen. We get inventive with urban legend backstories, quiz each other on classic horror movies, reminisce about creepy kids from our past. Our sponsor this week is StoryBlocks, which gives you high-quality stock images, video, and vectors for a fraction of the cost. Check out storyblocks.com/spirits to start your free 7-day trial, and tweet us the best stock image you can

#Creeptober is just around the corner, but we’re starting the season out right with one of our favorite creepy-cool witches: Circe. From turning men into pigs, enchanting sailors with herbs and feasts, and turning A WOMAN INTO A BUNCH OF DOGS FROM THE WAIST DOWN, Circe is the biggest badass the Odyssey has to offer. Featuring how ace/aro folks would make a killing in the love potion business, how you should never eat food given to you by a beautiful woman, the question of cannibalism in men-pigs, and an herb called HOLY MOLEY. Follow Jess on Twitter @j_zimms and Jaya @jayasax! Catch up on her incredible monster essays for Catapult, the piece she wrote with Jaya on coauthoring a book with your friend, her coverage of the <a hre

Down the cliffs overlooking the Southern Sea of Java, plunging into the depths of the rough ocean, you’ll find the kingdom of Kanjeng Ratu Kidul. Mortal princess turned mermaid queen, we take away lessons of mindfulness, the duality of life, and the fact that you definitely can’t smoke gillyweed from Harry Potter. Also featuring a lot of Moana references, Magic Girl transformations, and the goddess equivalent of Venmo. Go to http://videoblocks.com/spirits to get all the stock footage you can imagine for $149 a year. And check out Amanda’s photo of Paddy’s in Cusco, Peru! If you like Sp

We’re not just talking werewolves of London! We’ve got cannibals, whole cities of wolf-people, and some big ol’ cat folks as well. This week we cover werewolves as you know them, and werewolf & werewolf-adjacent stories from around the world. If you like Spirits, help us grow by spreading the word! Follow us on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, & <a href=

We’re kicking folklore into the 21st century to bring you this #kindacultykindacool episode. We’ve brought in reporter Kelly Weill to discuss Reptilians, cults, GOOP, and more as we dive into some recent events involving cult communities. What makes a cult? Why is steak tartare a faux pas among Reptilian watchers? How is the internet changing new religious movements? We cover all this and more! Content warning for violent crime, suicide, and harassment. If you or a loved one are experiencing thoughts of suicide, call 800-273-8255. The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is available 24/7. Thanks to Kelly Weill for joining us this episode! Follow her on Twitter <span style= "font-wei

What makes you you? Is it the way people see you? Or who you are and the actions you pursue? For the Laumes, it’s a little bit of both. We discuss these Lithuanian goddesses, imagining people complexly, a chapter full of nipples, the word ‘tweak’, rainbow ribbons and more this week on Spirits! MERCH MERCH MERCH! http://spiritspodcast.com/merch ! Kinda Creepy Kinda Cool shirts and Water Spirits pins are available for preorder through August 4th, and will be on sale at DFTBA.com after that too. If you like Spirits, help us grow by spreading the word! Follow us on Twitter, <sp

You may have heard some great breakup stories in the past, but we bet you haven’t heard one as good as Toyotama-hime’s. From a gem-spitting meet cute to battling a normal sized crocodile, our radiant gem princess went through a lot. Listen as we tell the story and reminisce on past breakups, trashy werewolf romance novels, secrets as anniversary presents, divine prenups, and more! MERCH MERCH MERCH! http://spiritspodcast.com/merch! Kinda Creepy Kinda Cool shirts and Water Spirits pins are now available for preorder. And you can still get $20 off your first order of wine at trywinc.com/spirits. CLICK THESE LINKS, y’all! <span style="font-weight: 400;"

The path might have a lot of twists and turns (and good goofs), but at the end of the Swedish Year Walk (Årsgång), you’ll be able to see into the future. We’ll give you a sneak peek: It features special guest Soha (@sokareemie), animorphs, goat heads, and more video game references than you can shake a stick at. It’s a long walk, but a little booze and a few jokes makes it all the more fun. You can find Yearwalk the game on Steam! Thanks to Winc for sponsoring this episode of Spirits! Visit trywinc.com/spirits for $20 of

Happy Pride! Now, let’s talk about the heat death of the universe. ...okay, it’s not THAT dark, but we go a little nuts talking about the Australian Aboriginal story of the Rainbow Serpent. We discuss Hogwarts’ lack of sex ed, how stories change with the environment, and how not EVERYTHING has to be phallic, jeez. See that rainbow up there? That means water and rain (and goofs) aren’t too far behind. Thank you to Audible for returning as a sponsor! Visit http://audible.com/spirits for a free book and a 30-day trial. This week we recommend the audiobooks A Natural History of Dragons b

You sent them, we read them! In this episode of Spirits, we read out your creepy, vaguely horrifying, usually fascinating hometown urban legends and folklore. From Ouija board mishaps to creepy goat-legged ladies and grandpas who love scaring their grandkids, we had a blast sharing your stories with the world! Julia recommends the gorgeous audio drama, The Far Meridian. Amanda recommends this week the work of Tana French! Find out more about this week’s myths: Donkey Lady, <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bloody_

We leave the world of men and enter Paradise as we sit down with Greg Rucka, head writer of Wonder Woman for DC. We discuss comic books as mythology, dig into the historical roots of Wonder Woman and the Amazons, and revel in the super queer nature of paradise. Join us to find out just how scared of powerful women the Greeks really were! A blog post version of the episode is also available here. Find out more about Greg Rucka and his work at GregRucka.com or on Twitter @RuckaWriter. For more on the Amazons of the DC Univers

This Sami Sun goddess has our back as we celebrate both the start of summer and Mental Health Awareness Month. Learn how Beaivi brings light to those in the darkness (metaphysically and literally!), how Amanda doesn’t know narwhals are real, and how butter is better when it’s got a little bit of culture. Julia recommends this hilarious Pikachu video and Amanda recommends Your Name. Discuss Sabriel with us on Goodreads (Spirits Book Club, anyone?).<

The road to the afterlife is dangerous, but good thing we’re all going together! We take you down the path past animal-headed gods, competent women who run the universe, and a god who just wants to eat your heart. But when we finally arrive in paradise, it will be full of good goofs, bad puns, video game references, and our favorite musical finales. Our recommendations this week: Nancy by WNYC (podcast) and MST3K (Netflix). See the 42 Principles of Mat here, the Girl Scou

Doomed love has never been so fun to talk about! Special guest Linda takes us through one of the most famous love stories in the Chinese cultural canon, with twists, turns, and detours to Dana Scully’s shoulder pads, Amanda’s graveyard traditions, and Julia’s favorite IRL treasure hunt. We promise to fill you with only a little bit of existential sadness at the end. Our recommendations this week: focused.af and Wynonna Erp. You can listen to us praise ‘She’s the Man’ on our friend Caroline’s podcast <span style="font-weight: 400;"

Meet the badass mermaid ruler of the rivers and coasts of Western Africa: Mami Wata, who knows how to exact revenge and how to enjoy the finer things in life. We talk snakes that can swim, Amanda’s lack of football knowledge, complicated relationships with water and exes, and how Mami Wata is the Fuck Mother we’ve been waiting for. If you like Spirits, help us grow by spreading the word! Follow us on Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, & <a href= "https://www.goodreads.com/group/show/205387-spirit

Creepy ravens, death rituals, and battlefield curses abound in this episode on the Celtic goddess trinity of doom and destruction. Hear A+ cursing, terrible stories about our future forms, confusion over what exactly a bull is, and of course some epic mispronunciation as we discuss Badb, Macha, Nemain, and Anann. Thanks to Audible for supporting our podcast! Hit up audible.com/spirits for a free audiobook plus a 30-day trial, and to show your support for Spirits. We recommend The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet and its sequel <a href= "http:

As guest star supreme, Catherine Addington, tells us, Our Lady of Guadalupe is “a thing that is both.” Mexican and Catholic, native and foreign, we dive deep into a story of devotion, roses, snake skirts, widowers, adult-born gods, human sacrifice, and the power of very pious grandmas. Stick around for some hot takes on mythology-inspired fashion, why you shouldn’t try to avoid your divine mom, and reasons to always believe the guy in your small town that says he spoke to God. Find Catherine on Twitter @caddington11 and on her website, and see the incredible Coatlicue statue here<span style= "font-weight

She’s beauty, she’s grace, she’ll cut you in the face. Then behead you and wear it as a necklace. That’s right, we’re talking about Hindu goddess of badassery, Kali! We take tips on how to participate in divine dance battles, make clothing out of limbs, and be both feared and loved by the best damn battle goddess we know. Also featuring Amanda trying to list Transformers (just you wait), organic food vs. Chicken McNuggets, and an obligatory Harry Potter reference. Want to be our Shiva? Take our audience survey! spiritspodcast.com/survey If you like Spirits, help us grow by spreading the word! Follow us on Twitter,

Dating can be treacherous, even without skeletal girlfriends, spider wives, child-eating mistresses, and crazy vengeance monsters. But don’t worry! The ladies at Spirits are here to help you navigate the seas of supernatural dating. We teach you the warning signs that your Tinder date may be a living skeleton (key: avoid red lanterns) and why you should never cheat on your significant other (unless you’re cool with dismemberment). Valentine’s Day has never been so creepy, yet oh so cool! Want to be our Valentine? Take our audience survey! spiritspodcast.com/survey If you like Spirits, help us grow by spreading the word! Follow us on Twitter,

A whole year has come and gone, and we’ve told a lot of stories. So why not DOUBLE IT? To celebrate Spirits Podcast’s first birthday, we’re giving you 30 myths in as many minutes - we hit almost every continent (fuck you, Antarctica), tell stories of warrior goddesses, magma monsters, creepy bears, and why Wario definitely isn’t a Maori deity. And hey, we want to take a minute to thank you all. We made it a year because of you, our amazing listeners. So, stay creepy & stay cool. Want to give us an anniversary gift? Take our audience survey! spiritspodcast.com/survey Myths discussed: Clytie (Greece), Chinnamasta (Hinduism), Huitaca (Colombia), Pazuzu (Babylon), Ammit (Egypt), San Pascualito (Guatemala and Mexico), Kuebiko (Japan), Kumu

All stories have the same roots - or, at least, that’s what our boy Joseph Campbell says. This week, we enter into the cycle of The Hero’s Journey with special guest Mischa Stanton. We’ll talk Basic Hero Bitches, the archetype behind grumpy Obi-wan Kenobi, stories of our theatre school dropout days, and just how to get past self-loathing when fighting the forces of evil. Mischa Stanton is creator of Ars Paradoxica and audio producer of The Bright Sessions. Find them on Twitter @MischaEtc. Our Time Travel audio extra is at <a href="http://pa

It's time to get a little abstract! (Get it? Because it's about Time?) With dad jokes galore, we dive into the New Year head-first with deities and spirits who control what is to come in the next year. Nail down a funny, tipsy future full of pop culture flubs, Pokémon goofs, and weird holiday films with Episode 25, Time! If you like Spirits, help us grow by spreading the word! Follow us on Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, & <a href= "https://www.goodreads.com/group/show/205387-spirits-a-drunken-dive-into-myths-and-l

After 24 episodes and many many drinks, there is a LOT of tape on our cutting room floor. We thought it was only fair to share some of these good, good spooky goofs, gags, and bloopers with you as the end of the year approaches. Tweet us your favorite! @SpiritsPodcast If you like Spirits, help us grow by spreading the word! Follow us on Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, & <a href= "https://www.goodreads.com/

He's made a list, and we've gotten smashed. This week, we stumble through the story of Krampus, the half-goat, half-demon, anti-Santa Claus. Unique traditions, questionable origins, and weird pop culture surround Europe's favorite chain-wielding holiday figure. End the year in style with a creepy/cool holiday story and a side of (a lot) of eggnog. Follow Eric on Twitter @ImEricSchneider. If you like Spirits, help us grow by spreading the word! Follow us on Twitter, Facebook, <span style="font-weig

There's nothing quite like a fairy tale. Heroes on quests, helpful magical animals, and… hidden sex dungeons?! We break down the famous Russian folktale of Koschei the Deathless, which defies the conventions of all the fairy tales we've heard and read before this! (Except the Little Mermaid. That's still messed up.) Hear our take on Bird Husbands, Russian Gary Stus, a turducken of death, and a badass warrior princess that deserved more air time, all with the help of special guest Ivan Plis (@ivanplis, ivanplis.com). If you like Spirits, help us grow by spreading the word! Follow us on <span style= "font-weight: 40

Your hometown defines you - the stories you hear end up being the stories that you tell through the rest of your life. This week, in honor of heading home for Thanksgiving, we bring you the urban legends we grew up with! From haunted asylums, to spooky roads, to demonic possessions, hear the stories that got us into the creepy & cool early on. Hear our take on Sweet Hollow Road, Kings Park Psychiatric Center, and the Amityvill

What makes a monster? This week, we take a well-known myth and turn it on its (snake) head. Everyone knows Medusa’s image and ability to turn people to stone, but we dive into her tragic origins and fearsome legacy. Also featuring translation issues, our favorite fictional pigs, and the do’s and don'ts of Greek dating. Our first ever sponsor is Central Curios! Listener Aaron produces gorgeous, handmade, one-of-a-kind wands that all come with certificates explaining that wand’s unique lore. Check him out on Instagram @CentralCurios, and send him a message on his website

How many times do we have to tell you - Stay out of graveyards! Unless you're into tragic lives, mysterious deaths, and long-lasting urban legends. Our guest Grace McCreight (@lizardtruth_) brings the myth and the wine; we bring pizza recommendations, burial advice, and New England jokes galore. Keep it spooky this Halloween with the legend of Midnight Mary! If you like Spirits, help us grow by spreading the word! Follow us on Twitter, like us on Facebook, and review us in <a href= "itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/spirits-drunken-dive-into/id1080

We couldn't resist bringing you a special bonus minisode on the spooky topic of Jack O'Lanterns! Where did this tradition come from? Were they always pumpkins, and always faces? How about that odd name? Join us for a short, info-packed dive into the gooey history of this Halloween classic. If you like Spirits, help us grow by spreading the word! Follow us on Twitter, like us on Facebook, and review us in iTunes to help new listeners find the show. Plus, check out our Patreon for bonus audio content, behind-the-scenes photos, custom recipe cards, and more. Our music is "Danger Storm" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com). Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0

A popup ad gone wrong. A fatal taxi ride. A host of vengeful ghosts. Present-day Japan has so many creepy-cool urban legends to offer, we just had to give you a round up before Halloween. We’ll teach you how to survive an encounter with these spirits—and how to scare your friends next time you find yourselves together on a dark and stormy night. Myths discussed: The Red Room Curse, Aka Manto (Red Cape), The Fatal Fare, Kuchisake-onna (The Slit-Mouthed Woman), Teke Teke, and Kashima Reiko/Kamen Shinin Ma. If you like Spirits, help us grow by spreading the word! Follow us on Twitter, like us on Facebook, and review us in iTunes to help ne

We feel a storm coming! Find out what the X-Men, tempests, and royal succession debates have in common as we learn about the Modjadji, the long line of queens ruling the Balobedu people of South Africa’s Limpopo Province. Politics is fun when it’s matriarchal and magical, people. If you like Spirits, help us grow by spreading the word! Follow us on Twitter, like us on Facebook, and review us in iTunes to help new listeners find the show. Plus, check out our Patreon for bonus audio content, behind-the-scenes photos, custom recipe cards, and more. Every bit helps as we get our first season off the ground! Our music is "Danger Storm" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com). Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License http://creativecommons.org/lic

Across the misty moors of Wales and England, we stumble across the Druids' most mysterious landmark: Stonehenge. Follow us into the shadowed origins of this ancient formation and speculate with us about its purpose. Special guest Lauren Shippen, creator of the wildly successful podcast The Bright Sessions, takes us through options from aliens, to human sacrifice, to archaeoacoustics. Stumble with us through our favorite theories behind one of England's most notable landmarks! Find Lauren on Twitter @LaurenShippen and The Bright Sessions @brightpodcast. Be sure to subscribe to The Bright Sessions in your favorite podcast app -- the new season premieres soon! If you like Spirits, help us grow by spreading the word! Follow us on Twitter, like us on Facebook, and review us in <a href= "itunes.

Who knew Russian mythology includes so many half-bird, half-woman creatures?! They run the gamut from prophets to sirens to companions for very emo hunters. Plus: inexplicable boobs galore! If you like Spirits, help us grow by spreading the word! Follow us on Twitter, like us on Facebook, and review us in iTunes to help new listeners find the show. Plus, check out our Patreon for bonus audio content, behind-the-scenes photos, custom recipe cards, and more. Every bit helps as we get our first season off the ground! Our music is: "Danger Storm" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

Before you see Disney’s upcoming movie Moana, learn all about the badass demigod Maui, origin stories of the Pacific Islands, and very human mythological metaphors of Polynesia and Hawaii. The sun is a pigeon, the matriarchy wins, and we meet the Jean-Ralphio of the sea. If you love Star Wars and the sunny shores of tropical islands, this is the episode for you. All this and more for our quinceañera episode! If you like Spirits, help us grow by spreading the word! Follow us on Twitter, like us on Facebook, and review us in iTunes to help new listeners find the show. Plus, check out our Patreon for bonus audio content, behind-the-scenes photos, custom recipe cards, and more. Every bit helps as we get our first season off the ground! Our music is: "Dange

Something is in the water. Follow us down a one-lane road through hills and swamps to uncover the mysteries of Cassadaga, Florida. Special guest Matt tells us all about his first-hand experience with this classic Orlando urban legend, plus the historical roots of the modern-day town. If you like Spirits, help us grow by spreading the word! Follow us on Twitter, like us on Facebook, and review us in iTunes to help new listeners find the show. Plus, check out our Patreon for bonus audio content, behind-the-scenes photos, custom recipe cards, and more. Every bit helps as we get our first season off the ground! Our music is "Danger Storm" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com). Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License http://creativecommons.org

Dive with us into the treacherous waters of Chinese Demonology, where giant clam monsters and sea serpents lurk. We encounter everything from zombies, to Pokemon Go, to monkeys creepier than your childhood Furby. Enjoy this quick tour of the bad, the ugly, and the actually-kinda-funny! If you like Spirits, help us grow by spreading the word! Follow us on Twitter, like us on Facebook, and review us in iTunes to help new listeners find the show. Plus, check out our Patreon for bonus audio content, behind-the-scenes photos, custom recipe cards, and more. Every bit helps as we get our first season off the ground! Our music is "Danger Storm" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com). Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License http://creativecommons.o

Feel the love as we explore Haitian Voodoo and its unique family of love spirits, the Erzulie. We look at three Erzulie who specialize in romantic love, motherly love, and love gone wrong. Plus, more about Amanda’s and Julia’s eclectic childhood hobbies! For just a taste of Once on This Island, check out their 1991 Tony Awards performance. Then imagine sixth-graders performing it. If you like Spirits, help us grow by spreading the word! Follow us on Twitter, like us on Facebook, and review us in iTunes to help new listeners find the show. Plus, check out our Patreon for bonus audio content, behind-the-scenes photos, custom recipe cards, and more. Every bit helps as we get our first season off th

Kicking it old school in Dark Age Eastern Europe this week with special guest Eric Silver! We missed out on the manischewitz, but we have lots of Jewish lore, Yiddish insults, and pop culture references for you to enjoy. Find Eric on Twitter @El_Silvero. If you like Spirits, help us grow by spreading the word! Follow us on Twitter, like us on Facebook, and review us in iTunes to help new listeners find the show. Plus, check out our Patreon for bonus audio content, behind-the-scenes photos, custom recipe cards, and more. Every bit helps as we get our first season off the ground! Our music is "Danger Storm" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com). Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

Break out the REM karaoke, because it's the end of the world as the Norse gods know it. Hear all about Ragnarok, apocalypse, rebirth, and more fantasy book/movie/TV references than even we can handle. If you like Spirits, help us grow by spreading the word! Follow us on Twitter, like us on Facebook, and review us in iTunes to help new listeners find the show. Plus, check out our Patreon for bonus audio content, behind-the-scenes photos, custom recipe cards, and more. Every bit helps as we get our first season off the ground! Our music is "Danger Storm" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com). Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

Follow us into Asgard and beyond with our crash course on Norse mythology! Thor, Loki and Odin are just the beginning. Plus, stick around to the end for a 'Spirits' first. If you like Spirits, help us grow by spreading the word! Follow us on Twitter, like us on Facebook, and review us in iTunes to help new listeners find the show. Plus, check out our Patreon for bonus audio content, behind-the-scenes photos, custom recipe cards, and more. Every bit helps as we get our first season off the ground! Our music is "Danger Storm" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com). Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0

Bigfoot. Sasquatch. Yeti. Menk. This week we tackle one of the most notorious folk legends of all time with the help of special guest Jake! Learn all about famous Bigfoot sightings, the cryptozoology internet, and possible explanations for this ubiquitous legend. If you like Spirits, help us grow by spreading the word! Follow us on Twitter, like us on Facebook, and review us in iTunes to help new listeners find the show. Plus, check out our Patreon for bonus audio content, behind-the-scenes photos, custom recipe cards, and the opportunity to become a producer. Every bit helps as we get our first season off the ground! Our music is "Danger Storm" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com). Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0

Go beyond Noah and the Ark with great flood myths from Mesopotamia, China, Native North America, and more. We dig into flood origin stories, survival strategies, the merits of Prometheus vs. Spider Grandmother, and way too many puns to count. If you like Spirits, help us grow by spreading the word! Follow us on Twitter, like us on Facebook, and review us in iTunes to help new listeners find the show. Plus, check out our Patreon for bonus audio content, behind-the-scenes photos, custom recipe cards, and the opportunity to become a producer. Every bit helps as we get our first season off the ground! Our music is "Danger Storm" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com). Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0

This classic myth from Korean folklore has an ending that we didn’t see coming! Universal motifs in a uniquely Korean context make for a great episode (with some top-notch drunken diversions). If you like Spirits, help us grow by spreading the word! Follow us on Twitter, like us on Facebook, and review us in iTunes to help new listeners find the show. Plus, check out our Patreon for bonus audio content, behind-the-scenes photos, custom recipe cards, and the opportunity to become a producer. Every bit helps as we get our first season off the ground! Our music is "Danger Storm" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com). Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0

Learn about the Tailypo, a.k.a. “The Sphinx of West Virginia,” from our first ever guest star! Eric Schneider, also our editor and all-around right-hand man, will teach us about this creepy woodsy myth. Plus, an excellent movie pitch and some highly suspect Gilligan’s Island headcanon. If you like Spirits, help us grow by spreading the word! Follow us on Twitter, like us on Facebook, and review us in iTunes to help new listeners find the show. Plus, check out our Patreon for bonus audio content, behind-the-scenes photos, custom recipe cards, and the opportunity to become a producer. Every bit helps as we get our first season off the ground! Our music is "Danger Storm" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com). Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0

This week, a truly epic tale of love, betrayal, jealousy, and a quest literally to Hell and back. Episode four dives into the dramatic relationship between Eros and Psyche. You may have heard their names, but never this version of their story! If you like Spirits, help us grow by spreading the word! Follow us on Twitter, like us on Facebook, and review us in iTunes to help new listeners find the show. Plus, check out our Patreon for bonus audio content, behind-the-scenes photos, custom recipe cards, and the opportunity to become a producer. Every bit helps as we get our first season off the ground! Our music is "Danger Storm" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com). Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0

Join us on a journey to the Philippines as we learn more about this delightfully creepy vampire/witch/ghoul. Surprisingly, aswang make pretty good neighbors! If you like Spirits, help us grow by spreading the word! Follow us on Twitter, like us on Facebook, and review us in iTunes to help new listeners find the show. Plus, check out our Patreon for bonus audio content, behind-the-scenes photos, custom recipe cards, and the opportunity to become a producer. Every bit helps as we get our first season off the ground! Our music is "Danger Storm" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com). Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0

This week on Spirits, two very different kinds of creatures from the deep: Selkies and Kelpies. There's mischief, rumors, sexual intrigue... Only the best for you, dear listeners! If you like Spirits, help us grow by spreading the word! Follow us on Twitter, like us on Facebook, and review us in iTunes to help new listeners find the show. Plus, check out our Patreon for bonus audio content, behind-the-scenes photos, custom recipe cards, and the opportunity to become a producer. Every bit helps as we get our first season off the ground! Our music is "Danger Storm" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com). Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0

The first episode of Spirits introduces you to the ancient Greek gods with the story of Hades and Persephone. Find out why marrying siblings wasn't weird, hear what Hades was really like, and get tips on naming your dog straight from ancient Greece. Help Spirits grow by spreading the word! Follow us on Twitter, like us on Facebook, and review us in iTunes to help new listeners find the show. Plus, check out our Patreon for bonus audio content, behind-the-scenes photos, custom recipe cards, and the opportunity to become a producer. Every bit helps as we get our first season off the ground! Our music is: "Danger Storm" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

Spirits is a boozy weekly podcast about mythology, legends and folklore. Hear fresh takes on classic myths and learn new stories from around the world, served up over ice by two tipsy history geeks.   Find Us Online If you like Spirits, help us grow by spreading the word! Follow us on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, & Goodreads, and review us on Apple Podcasts to help new listeners find the show. You can support us on Patreon to unlock bonus audio content, director’s commentaries, custom recipe ca