The second episode in a 3-part Haunted Talks special event! We continue our exploration of Canada’s most documented and frightening Poltergeist cases. For this episode, we travel to the Maritimes and explore two stories in the Canadian province of Nova Scotia. Although nearly 50 years and 200 km separate them, these stories share too many details to ignore. They have all of the hallmarks of the poltergeist stories that we’ve already come to know: the strange noises and aggressive behaviours.

In Amherst, a young woman named Esther Cox became the target of suspicion after her family’s home was tormented by an entity that would start fires, leave writings on the walls, and directly communicate with witnesses by using knocks or a disembodied voice. 

In Caledonia Mills, a family was besieged by a relentless series of fires. It seemed anything could catch fire at any moment: wallpaper, wet towels, and the grass in the yard. Nothing was safe from the flames. The family was so worried about the spread of fire that they all took turns keeping watch, worried that there could be an arsonist lurking in their midst.

Join us for the final episode of Canadian Poltergeists on Friday, October 21st, 2022!

 

The first episode in a 3-part Haunted Talks special event! Over the next few episodes, we’ll explore four poltergeist stories that took place in Canada in the 19^th and early 20^th centuries, all of which seem to share some striking and terrifying similarities. 

We start off with one of the greatest Canadian mysteries of all time and what might be the most famous historic poltergeist story in the country: the Baldoon mystery. Rocks and bullets were propelled at the exterior of their house by unseen attackers. Family members would often collect the bullets and rocks and sometimes leave unique markings on the items. They were then brought off the property and even deposited in nearby creeks. Only a few days later, the same bullets and rocks with the unique markings would appear back at their house.

Our second poltergeist story takes us to Clarendon, Quebec, where the Dagg Family were subjected to objects flying around and heavy furniture moving by itself. Despite the suspicions placed on a recently adopted daughter who seemed a lightning rod for the activity, there was agreement that no one person could start so many random fires without help.

Join us for the next two parts of Canadian Poltergeists! New episodes every day from Oct 19 – 21, 2022!

We start the show with TWO major announcements! In a Haunted Talks first, we will have three-part mini-series on classic Canadian poltergeist cases that we will release over three consecutive days. The series kicks-off on Wednesday, October 19th, 2022. 

In other big news, our Virtual Haunted Campfires will return for two big live shows at the end October. They will feature two of most popular campfire guest storytellers ever.

The Pickman family thought they had found the perfect new home for their growing family. Within days they began to notice strange happenings. Playful at first, they became sinister and terrifying. Forcing the family to flee for their safety, leaving an incredible ghost story and countless questions in their wake. Join us as we explore the extremely disturbing Sallie House Haunting.

The Beast of Gévaudan is a true story about a vicious monster that terrorized the French countryside in the 18th century. It was a creature that was so difficult to describe that most of the eyewitnesses could not agree about what had attacked them. A wolf? A man? Or was it something else entirely? Despite many theories over the last 250 years, no satisfactory explanation has ever been found. We attempt to separate the fact from the fiction and ponder if this fanciful-sounding beast was humanity’s most terrible nightmare come true.

For more details about our new ghost tours: Ghosts of Queen’s University (Kingston), Tales from the Mausoleum at Beechwood Cemetery (Ottawa), and Toronto’s Haunted Harbour.

Alcatraz is a place that uniquely captures the imagination, with stories of the civil war, harden criminals, daring escape attempts and lingering legends. We will be exploring “the Rock” through the eyes of Historian, Haunted Talks contributor and former Haunted Walk tour guide, Brittney Bos, Ph.D, as she visits the infamous island for the first time. While wandering the cellblocks and hallways she will share her thoughts and impressions about this one-of-a-kind site and why it is essential to preserve and visit places of tragedy, loss and suffering.

For more about Alcatraz, hear from a Park Ranger in Haunted Talks Episode 19 – The Fate of the Kingston Pen.

Sometimes even the most cheerful and happy places can be spooky. We share the stories of several locations that you never would guess are haunted, including children’s playgrounds, amusement parks and sports stadiums. There is something about the unexpected nature of these encounters that makes them especially eerie. You may never look at the monkey bars the same way again.

Over 700 people were hanged in Canada before capital punishment was abolished in 1976. Of those, less than 2% were women. We examine the rare occasions when women were executed and the circumstances surrounding those cases. The stories range from acts of senseless violence to domestic disputes to gross miscarriages of justice to botched executions. We delve into this dark and often overlooked aspect of Canadian history.

In the episode, we mention Canada’s Official Executioner Arthur Ellis. To read more about his story and tragic downfall, check out our blog post – “Canada’s Hangman“.

While a minor outlaw during his lifetime, the story of Elmer J. McCurdy really begins after his death in 1911. For 60 years, his mortal remains were intentionally, and at times accidentally, displayed for public amusement and profit. Events culminated in 1976 when a TV show thought they had found the perfect prop in an old carnival dark ride. Only to realize what they had discovered was not a recreation of a mummified body – but a corpse! What was it doing there, and how was the mystery solved? We share the shocking and at times almost unbelievable tale of the afterlife of Elmer J. McCurdy in the latest episode of Haunted Talks!

It has been called the most haunted object in the world, but is it really one of the biggest paranormal hoaxes in recent memory? The Dybbuk Box has terrified people for nearly two decades, but last year the original spreader of the tale (and a few accomplices) admitted that the entire thing was made up. We dig into the facts, the fiction, and the bizarre stories of those who continue to come into contact with it.

The strange disappearance of pilot Fredrick Valentich in 1978, is one of aviation’s greatest unsolved mysteries. In the episode, we examine the mystery, including the bizarre radio transmissions from Valentich, which include the chilling line, “…it’s not an aircraft.” Was it a tragic accident, a hoax gone wrong, or a close encounter with a UFO? Could it be something else completely unexpected? Join us as we fly into mystery. Be sure to check out our HAUNTED TALKS tees & hoodies!

In part two of our special interview with the British Museum’s Dr. Irving Finkel, he shares more from his book, The First Ghosts: Most Ancient of Legacies, including a discussion of the earliest drawing of a ghost, the intricate role of exorcists in Mesopotamian societies, and how the dead would often be rudely called up from the underworld to answer pressing personal questions from the living. He also ponders why modern society has become so skeptical about ghosts and shares his attempts to see one for himself at the very haunted British Museum. We would strongly suggest listening to part one before enjoying this episode.

Be sure to check out our new Haunted Talks Tees & Haunted Hoodies – look spooky and help support the show!

What is the oldest recorded mention of a ghost? Dr. Irving Finkel, Assistant Keeper of Ancient Mesopotamian script, languages and cultures in the Department of the Middle East at the British Museum, joins us to talk about his recent book The First Ghosts: Most Ancient of Legacies. He shares how living with ghosts and other restless spirits has been part of the human experience from the earliest moments of recorded history. Not only is he a leading expert in ancient writing, but also a wonderful and playful storyteller and we are extremely lucky to have him for a special two-part interview. Part two will be released next Friday.

Be sure to check out our new Haunted Talks Tees & Haunted Hoodies!

While not a traditional ghost story, the tale of the wrecked iron scow that sits atop Niagara Falls is a haunting cliffhanger. It unfolds on the threatening edge of one of the most awe-inspiring natural wonders in the world. Its wreckage is a secret hiding in plain sight. For over 100 years it has stood as a sentinel to the passage of time. Earlier this month, major news broke about the fate of the beloved ghost ship. We share the incredible story and discuss the recent news.

See all of our episodes at: https://hauntedwalk.com/podcasts/

A cluster of rental homes near Manchester, England, requires new tenants to sign a waiver acknowledging that they will be living in a haunted house. As part of our discussion of this strange scenario and the frightening incidents that took place in these homes, we are joined by Paige Oldfield, the reporter from the Manchester Evening News who broke the story. Join us for the latest episode of Haunted Talks!

For the first time ever, scientists have recorded the brain activity of a patient in the moments right before and immediately following death. The results may be the first scientific evidence of the often reported “seeing your life flashing before your eyes” during a near-death experience. We are joined by Dr. Kate Einarson, a behavioural scientist and knowledge translator, to discuss the findings, the answers they provide, and the new questions they raise. Join us for a mind-blowing episode of Haunted Talks!

Robert Service’s The Cremation of Sam McGee is a beloved Canadian ghost story set in the unforgiving North. Many can identify it with just the first few lines. Themes of survival, obligation and brutal relentless cold, unexpectedly culminate in a surprise twist ending. We share a reading of the iconic poem and explore its strange history and the urban legends that surround this masterpiece.

Can we be haunted by our own thoughts? Or use them to haunt others? Few ideas produce the fear and existential dread that Roko’s Basilisk provides. This unique thought experiment was considered so potentially disturbing, that the original website to which it was published quickly banned the topic. We break down this strange collision of urban legend, artificial intelligence and philosophy.

Listener Warning: If you are struggling right now, or don’t want to deal with existential questions about reality, we would suggest listening to a different episode. But, if you love a good metaphysical mystery that challenges our perceptions, and provides a good chill, join us as we head down the rabbit hole and explore the philosophical head-trip that is Roko’s Basilisk.

We are going to be talking about death, but not in the usual ways we do on this podcast. There will be little discussion of the paranormal, and no mention of grizzly murders, unsolved or otherwise. Instead, we will be looking into the lives and businesses of those who spend the most time with the dead – Undertakers. Joining us will be a historical researcher and author, Marion Roes, to talk about her new book, Death as Life’s Work, which focuses on Undertakers and Funeral Businesses in the Waterloo, Ontario region from 1850-2020.  Marion will be sharing with us some of the practices that have changed in the industry over the years, surprising artifacts she unearthed during her research, and her family’s unique experience of operating a funeral home for over 100 years.

Follow Marion Roes on Twitter and her Facebook Page “Undertakers and Their Businesses in Waterloo Region“.

Katarina and Diandra, co-hosts of the German paranormal podcast, Geistergeflüster, join us for a paranormal cultural exchange. In addition to sharing some of their favourite German ghost stories, which include the origins of Sleepy Hollow’s headless horseman and a spirit who is very concerned about eating lunch, we also discuss the surprising way Germans think about the supernatural.

Each year around this time, we share a fictional Christmas-themed ghost story. The kind of which used to be more commonly shared between friends and family while huddling around a fire on a blustery December night. This year’s story “The Crown Derby Plate” was written by Marjorie Bowen and was first published in 1931. What we really like about The Crown Derby Plate, besides it being set during the Holidays, is that it beautifully captures the sense of an isolated and eerie house in the country, where clearly something is wrong. It’s creepy, atmospheric, and gets under your skin. While the story revolves around the search for a missing china plate, the real mystery that captures our attention is the uncanny and threatening nature of the secluded home and its awful garden. So, get the kettle going, stoke the fire, and tuck yourself under a warm blanket…things are about to get chilling!

December 5th is Krampusnacht! In this special episode we share our recent live Virtual Haunted Campfire on Krampus. Who is he and where does this bizarre tradition come from? What’s the connection between a demon and Santa Claus? Join us as we kick off the Haunted Holiday Season with Krampus and share some seasonal ghost stories!

Featuring: KRAMPUS!, Glen Shackleton, Jim Dean, Rowena Brook, and Margo MacDonald

A very Happy Halloween to all Haunted Talks listeners! Here is one last treat for your Halloween night. 🖤

Incredible hoax or one of the most witnessed cases of supernatural activity?

The Enfield Poltergeist is a case that must give the most ardent skeptics pause. The story is not only terrifying, but spanning 2 years, it is also one of the most well-documented hauntings in history. There were many firsthand witnesses and hundreds of hours of audio recordings from inside the haunted house. All of which begs the question, how much evidence is enough? In the episode, we will explore the unsettling events and closely examine the key evidence that makes the Enfield Poltergeist such a compelling and frightening case. (View Images) This episode was originally released on Oct 16th, 2019.

When the Mary Celeste was found off the Azores in 1872, it was immediately clear that something was wrong. The ship was deserted. What happened? Did the crew stage a mutiny? Were they attacked by pirates? Caught in a storm or some other freak weather event? Stories of this “Ghost Ship” quickly began to spread around the world, as did the fanciful stories of her fate. Join us as we set sail to explore one of the greatest nautical unsolved mysteries of all time!