Our understanding of hypnotism, once known as mesmerism, has radically evolved over the centuries. This episode looks at where it all began, examining thefascinating (and rather weird) story of t

Banshees are spirits of Irish folklore, who warn of impending deaths. Originally considered fairies, theirIrish name,bean sdhe,means woman of the mounds, those mounds (sdhe) being theancient

The story of Snow White, as told by the Brothers Grimm, is only one of many narratives involving girls who have fallen into a deathlike state and are displayed in a glass coffins. In this episode, we

A few listeners commented that Mrs. Karswells dialogue was muffled at points in Sorcery Schools of Spain. That episode is now updated with a corrected version. Thanks for letting us know.

For centuries, Spain was said to be the home of secret, underground sorcery schools, Toledo being the first city with this reputation and later Salamanca. The notoriety of the latter was more endurin

Tonight we bring you our sixth annual Christmas ghost story, a tradition particularly beloved in Victorian and Edwardian Britain. First published in 1908, and set in the days before Christmas, the tal

The Christmas season is rich in superstitions. The whole period from the beginning of Advent, through the day itself, and especially throughout the twelve days (and nights!) between Christmas and Janu

The Monster of Glamis was a Victorian legend involving a Scottish castle, a secret chamber, and a monstrous aristocrat hidden from the worlda perfect story for Bone and Sickles return to its old for

Tonight we recreate for you elements of an old-fashioned Halloween party as experienced in the 1920s or 30s. Foods, games, spooky stories and poems in an extra-long Halloween episode. For more retro

The Spook House, an 1899 short story by Ambrose Bierce is suitably spooky for the season, but not in the way you expect.It was a favorite of H. P. Lovecraft, who praised its terrible hints of a sho