Let's breathe in the strange and suffocating tale of the Mad Gasser of Mattoon, the phantom prowler who paralyzed an entire Illinois town in the summer of 1944 with nothing but a sweet smell and a whole lot of wartime dread. We dig into the moments that lit the fuse, the armed vigilantes who followed, and why the army chemical experts found absolutely nothing. Plus, we trace the long, weird history of fear going airborne, from the Glass Harmonica's alleged nerve-shredding powers to Spring-heeled Jack, War of the Worlds, and the surprisingly ancient art of a town losing its collective mind.

Let’s take a walk through a blood soaked history of Greyfriars Kirkyard and the apparitions who do or maybe do not haunt there. We discuss the plague victims, mass graves, the Covenanters, and the monster who may be lurking in the dark. Plus, a bonus illness-induced, emotional rant about humanity and how we treat one another.

R4_00597_EXP01_Horror_atmosphere by kevp888 -- https://freesound.org/s/759670/ -- License: Attribution 4.0

Follow along with us as we enter a different realm, beyond the known and into... Toronto, Canada. Where we watch the 1970s every day citizens embark upon a journey of mysticism and science. Philip never existed but he has gained a life in the minds of those who created him and for those of us who uncover this, for all intents and purposes, successful attempt to create a ghost.

View the documentary The Philip Experiment

Most of us love to dance. School dances, dance clubs, weddings, etc., are all opportunities for those of us with the passion but not the professional skill to shake our groove thing. We dance until we need a drink or they switch to a song we dislike. But what if you couldn’t stop? What if your friends and neighbors were all dancing with you? What if none of you could stop? Join us as we explore the mysterious phenomenon known as the Dancing Plagues.

Time is like a river, or perhaps a babbling brook. Michelle and Beth jump into the time stream and visit fantastical places like across the street or down the road. Every place has a time slip story, those moments that capture you like a leaf in a dust devil and keep you twirling until you find yourself no longer in Kansas but out of time.

The mystery, the history, and the…science? This week Beth and Michelle discuss an area of the U.S. they both love as they set the scene for many myths and lore to come. This area can make a person ask a lot of questions and give few answers in return but will definitely leave a ton of room for speculation. So, close the curtains, don’t whistle, and ignore the voice in the woods calling your name. Don’t worry, it’s just the Appalachian Mountains.

Some beings endure over the centuries, not just surviving the encroachment of the modern world but thriving within new mediums. Whether it is in a Marvel movie, video games or a podcast about folklore, some beings still retain their relevance. Michelle and Beth discuss the nature and duality of Baba Yaga and her walking hut.

Beyond the Mother Metaphor: Baba Yaga's Ecofeminist Manifesto

Music by Ønetent from Pixabay

Michelle's favorite cryptid finally swoops into an episode! Beth takes a skeptical, if empathetic, eye to the cryptids origins. Everything you ever wanted to know -or hypothesize- about the Mothman is in this episode. Is the Mothman real or a mass hallucination? A harbinger or a watcher? Or maybe a lonely soul looking for a companion. The Mothman may be the only one who knows.

"The Mothman Song" by Melissa Starfall