a family gathering in the Haynesville Woods where members share local folklore, personal memories, and original poetry. The primary legend discussed is that of the Hoof Man, a "gangly" figure with a blood-stained face and hands who allegedly visited a hunting camp called The Raven during a snowstorm, leaving only cloven hoof prints in his wake. The speakers also recount other local myths like the hitchhiker and the "Neon Lady," alongside personal anecdotes of getting a flat tire near the bridge and the camaraderie of hunting camp life. The session concludes with a reading of an original poem titled "Rutting Season," which captures the rowdy yet sentimental atmosphere of northern Maine hunting camps and the deep bonds formed among the men who gather there.

In this New Year's episode of Arcane Answers, host Larry and co-hosts Amanda and Sarah discuss various global traditions and superstitions for ringing in the new year. The group explores historical roots, such as Julius Caesar establishing January 1st as the start of the year in honor of the two-faced god Janus , and dives into diverse cultural practices like eating twelve grapes in Spain for luck or wearing specific colors of underwear in Latin America to attract wealth or love. They also detail a wide array of symbolic foods, ranging from Japan’s longevity-granting soba noodles to the American South’s "Hoppin' John" and the seven lucky gods of Japanese mythology. The episode concludes with a list of foods to avoid, such as lobster and chicken—which supposedly "move backwards" and sweep away good fortune —while Sarah encourages everyone to smash a pomegranate for future blessings.

In this festive episode of Arcane Answers, host Lehrer is joined by sisters Amanda and Sara to explore the fascinating (and sometimes bizarre) history behind modern holiday traditions. The trio dives into the concept of religious syncretism—the blending of traditions—explaining how the early Church co-opted existing pagan festivals to establish December 25th as Christmas.

Hosts Lare, Amanda, and Sara explore the darker, more terrifying "helpers" and enforcers of Saint Nicholas from European folklore. The episode details figures such as Belsnickel (the switch-wielding German 'Nicholas in furs'), Père Fouettard (the French 'Father Whipper' with a gruesome backstory), and the notorious Krampus (the half-goat, half-demon from Alpine regions). The discussion also covers the chilling German crone Frau Perchta, who punishes the lazy by slitting their bellies, and the Icelandic family of monsters: Grýla, her Thirteen Yule Lads, and the monstrous Yule Cat who eats children who aren't wearing new clothes.

Arcane Answers: American Vampires, Corpse Medicine, and Texan Courts

Join Lare and mystical sisters Amanda and Sara as they sink their teeth into the topic of vampires beyond Transylvania!

This episode explores three fascinating facets of the undead:

• The New England Vampire Panic: Host Lare recounts the chilling true story of the Brown family of Rhode Island in 1892 and how an outbreak of tuberculosis (consumption) led their community to exhume a deceased daughter, believing she was a vampire feeding on her surviving brother. Discover the bizarre, gruesome "corpse medicine" tonic that was forced upon the sick son, and how this event helped inspire the novel Dracula.
• The Vampires of Texas: Amanda sheds light on the surprisingly thriving, consensual vampire communities—or "courts"—in Texas, particularly the active Vampire Court of Dallas. Learn about the three primary types of modern vampires (sanguinary, psychic, and tantric), the screening process for new members, and the group's delightful focus on community service, from fighting human trafficking to anti-suicide campaigns.
• The Casket Girls of New Orleans: Sara shares the eerie legend of the Casket Girls in the 1700s, pale and sickly young women allegedly sent from France to be wives, whose mysterious, heavy caskets were found empty in a convent attic. Plus, stick around for a final, funny tidbit about the Romani tradition of vampiric watermelons and pumpkins!

It's an episode packed with history, folklore, and modern-day marvels!

Join Lare, Amanda, and Sara on this chilling tour of haunted locations across North America and Asia! The journey starts in Maine, detailing the birth of the American ghost with the talkative and match-making spirit of Nellie Butler in 1799, followed by the tragic, piano-playing ghost of Sanguine Island Light. Amanda takes us to Toronto's Mackenzie House, where the ghost of the city's first mayor still runs the old printing press. But the terror peaks at the Diplomat Hotel in the Philippines, a site of horrific World War II atrocities. And Finally, we explore the immense and chilling Thornewood Castle in Washington, the real-life inspiration for Stephen King's Rose Red, complete with ghostly reflections and spectral house parties.

Hosts Lare, Amanda, and Sara interview Twila about her life as a pagan witch. Twila delves into intuitive magic, her connection to the deity Loki, the practice of shadow work, and her unique Samhain ritual, the Dumb Dinner.

This episode dives into the evolution of witchcraft, profiling three key areas. First, we examine Laurie Cabot, the "Official Witch of Salem," who fought negative stereotypes and opened the city's first witch shop. Next, we explore the eccentric life of Gerald Gardner, the founder of the Gardnerian Wicca tradition. Finally, we trace the history of familiars, from mythological companions and demonic imps to their role as modern spirit guides.