The Strange and Unusual Podcast

Games You Shouldn’t Play After Dark: Nine Invitations to the Unknown

From Bloody Mary to the Midnight Game, we explore the eerie histories, unsettling rules, and reported experiences behind games best left unplayed after dark. Turn down th

The Corpse Roads: Forgotten Paths of the Dead

For centuries, Britain's dead traveled ancient paths to reach their final resting places. In this episode, we follow the forgotten corpse roads and the eerie folklore the

The Cannibal In The Apothecary: 300 Years of Corpse Medicine

For 300 years, Europeans ate human beings as medicine, with mummy powder, skull, the fat of the executed, and bought it over the counter from licensed apothecaries. Durin

10 Things in the Pacific Northwest Woods That Shouldn’t Be There

This summer's woods tradition continues, in this episode we're heading  into the Pacific Northwest. You'll learn about a mountain that grew a monster after it erupted, a

10 Things in the New England Woods That Shouldn’t Be There

A companion to the Appalachian woods episode: ten strange, eerie, and true things lurking in the forests of New England. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See p

10 Things in the Appalachian Woods That Shouldn’t Be There

There’s an old rule in the Appalachian Mountains, if you hear your name called from the woods, don’t answer. This week, we’re delving into the hills to find out why. We c

Bloom and Rot - A Rural Village Spring Folk-Horror

Join Alyson for a work of folk horror fiction she wrote in honor of the new spring season. In this episode, we follow Fiona, who has gone to the village of Eldergrove aft

Away with the Fairies: The Changeling Murder of Bridget Cleary

In 1895 Ireland, Bridget Cleary was killed by those who believed she had been replaced by a fairy changeling. In this episode we explore the eerie folklore of the Aos Sí,

The Radium Girls

In this episode, we examine the haunting true story of the Radium Girls, the young women in the early 20th century hired to paint luminous watch dials with radium-laced p

7 Winter Legends That Lurk in the Dark

From the monstrous Yule Cat of Iceland to the cannibal Wendigo of North America, in this episode I explore seven eerie winter legends from around the world. You’ll meet J

The Night of the Strigoi: St. Andrew’s Eve in Romania

Between garlands of garlic on doorways, wolves finding their voice in the dark, and the undead rising from their graves,  Romania’s celebration of St. Andrew’s Eve (Novem

10 Strange and Unusual Halloween Superstitions

On All Hallows’ Eve, the veil thins and the folklore gets...fun. In this episode, I  count down 10 strange superstitions, from turnip jack-o’-lanterns and mirror magic to

Gallows and Grimoires: Witchcraft from the Spellbook to the Noose

From whispered charms and buried witch bottles to torture chambers and Salem’s gallows, this episode of The Strange and Unusual Podcast traces the haunting story of the w

Shadows of Immortality: Vampires from Folklore to Pop Culture

On this episode we trace the vampire’s long, shadowy journey, from 18th-century graveyard panics and Slavic strigoi to the seductive aristocrats of Gothic fiction and the

Back To School Nightmares

In this episode, we head back to school, but not the way you remember it. From abandoned high schools and haunted classrooms to urban legends whispered in bathrooms and t

Whispers In The Corn: Harvest Watchers and Field Spirits

For this episode we're exploring harvest folklore throughout the world, and how it connects to the genre of folk horror. From the sunlit dread of Lady Midday stalking the

Goodnight, Sleep Tight: The Sandman and Other Creatures of the Night

In this episode, we'll explore the folklore of the night, from the Sandman to Sleep Paralysis demons, and more. We'll get into the history of the lore, the scientific stu

Urban Legends Come to Life

In this episode, we dig into the topic of urban legends come to life, These are legends that either others have actually brought to life and urban legends that are surpri

When the Midway Goes Dark: Strange Tales of Abandoned Amusement Parks

Join me on this summer road trip to some of the world's creepiest abandoned amusement parks. Our stops include: Lake Shawnee Amusement Park, Pripyat, Ukraine, Land of Oz,

Haunted Waters, Pt. 4: Ghosts Adrift

In this episode in the Haunted Waters series, we explore ghost ships from around the world, which include The Carroll A. Deering, The Mary Celeste, The Flying Dutchman, E