Haunted History Podcasts for Halloween

Curated by...

Brandon Schexnayder (he/him)

Why did you choose this theme?Halloween is near and the only thing better than a good old-fashioned ghost story is one with a bit of truth underneath the surface

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and since podcasting has folks from all walks of life, there are podcasts that showcase the spookiest tales from all over the world!These shows aren’t just some of the best at researching authentic haunted history, but they’re also a diverse lot with very different approaches to the field. Sit back, relax, and have a listen… if you dare!

PODCAST PICKS:Click on the podcast art to listen 👂

The American Witch

This episode takes us back to early American history and explores the many people

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from healers to herbalists, hex signs, and hoodoo doctors 

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who have all been accused of witchcraft but never quite reached the level of infamy as those in Salem.

SustoSanta MuerteIn this episode, host Ayden explores the background and history of the death deity, La Santa Muerte.

Real Life Ghost StoriesThe Cooneen PoltergeistHost Emma, an Irish storyteller and a horror movie fanatic, has a gift for writing truly captivating stories, and in this episode she really shines with a tale that she grew up hearing about in Ireland. After all, this early-20th-century ghost story involves the first sanctioned exorcism in Ireland.

Pleasing TerrorsThe Mermaid Returns: Part OneHost Mike Brown has spent almost 30 years as a tour guide in Charleston, South Carolina, and this three-part series, explores local lore there. It is an absolute masterclass in deep dives… in fact, you might even call him a "Dan Carlin of Dark History."

One Strange ThingThe ToyHosted by The Fall Line veteran Laurah Norton, this show offers up true stories with a little bit of snarky commentary and dry wit. Laurah not only tells you the story of Robert the Doll, possibly the world’s most haunted object, but pushes the line when it comes to disrespecting “him” — and if you want to know what happens to folks who disrespect Robert, you might want to give this one a listen.

SPONSOR:

Introducing Sound Sorceresses Magazine

Sound Sorceresses is proud to announce its highly anticipated launch. This groundbreaking quarterly publication will showcase the talent and innovation of women in the field of audio-making. The content will be a unique blend of narrative and technical pieces. Sound Sorceresses is a celebration of women's ability to turn a pain point into something amazing. This magazine will serve as a place to find women excelling in their digital storytelling craft. 

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COMMUNITY:

🎙️The Gun Machine is a collaboration between WBUR and The Trace, a nonprofit news organization dedicated to reporting on gun violence. With a mission to break America out of its stalemated conversation about gun violence and gun rights, The Gun Machine begins with a question: What if everything we know about guns is wrong? 🏊🏽‍♀️In this episode of Angela Walker In Conversation - Inspirational People, Under-Reported Issues, meet Laura Reineke, a fearless woman fresh from the challenge of swimming from England to France to highlight the issue of sewage pollution. 🧬On the latest episode of The Show About Science; The platypus has perplexed generations of scientists. Now researchers are studying the platypus on the molecular level, and it turns out to be even more surprising than we could have imagined.🌳Nature Breaking, a World Wildlife Fund podcast, explores the biggest issues affecting people and our planet. Hear from WWF experts on everything from the decline of monarch butterflies, to the ways in which environmental DNA might help build a more sustainable future for polar bears.

⚖️Tried and True Podcast is a new show in which Adewonuola Johnson observes criminal trials across North America and evaluates their fairness against international human rights standards. Think of it as a trial of a trial!

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PODCAST NEWS from Podnews:

• The winners of the Black Podcasting Awards were announced.

• Pushkin Industries is to make 17 employees redundant, representing 30% of its workforce. There are executive changes as well, reports Bloomberg. Meanwhile, the New York Times reports that WNYC is to cut its workforce by 12%, roughly 40 people.

SPOTLIGHT:

Play on Podcasts: OthelloPlay On Podcasts are epic audio adventures reimagining timeless tales, featuring original music compositions and the voices of extraordinarily gifted artists. Mfoniso Udofia's unsparing translation of Shakespeare's cruelest tragedy unmasks the ravages of prejudice and racism with unflinching honesty, revealing a world where bodies can be dispossessed by the meanest of minds. 

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