The Devil’s Dirtstar

Content Warning: This podcast often uses explicit language and covers sensitive or distressing topics - suicide specifically is discussed in this episode. It is NSFW. Listener discretion is advised. Dirtlings, it sure is dark down here inside the Dirtstar this week. Join Ellsworth and Big Spoon as they delve deep into the science, spirituality, and high strangeness of organ transplants! Ellie and Riley recount the tale of one of the most infamous organ donation donations, where two men's lives are intertwined not just by a shared heart, but also by the same woman who stole it—romantically, of course. They explore the concept of cellular memory and its postulated effects on organ recipients, including the fascinating physical and psychological changes that may occur, like newfound preferences for the donor's favorite things. They also explore the idea of energy lingering in our bodies and tissues after death, and the mystical memoir of Claire Sylvia, an organ recipient who met her donor in her dreams. It’s so much deeper than that Dirtlings, so stay tuned! Ellie and Riley make a pit stop at Side Bar Hospital to discuss the Philip experiment where a parapsychology research society basically conjured a tulpa, haunted blood transfusions, how artificial intelligence (AI) is utterly terrifying, and theories on where modern medicine will take us next, leading to Ellie’s beautiful impression of a heart growing in a petri dish. Check out episode sources, pictures, or any other goodies we may have found on our website. This episode is sponsored by our incredible Patrons: Tasha, BJ, Brian, Brent, Katrina, Carol and Count Chocula. You Dirtlings warm our dark little hearts! Special thanks to our show sponsor, The Phantom Moon Collection. Phantom Moon Collection is a small business jewelry brand started by our incredible friend, Natasha. Each piece is handmade with love, inspired by her favorite books, horror stories, and her three kitties, Bellatrix, Pumpkin, and Eevee. Use code DIRTLINGS for 15% off your order! 988 - The Suicide & Crisis Lifeline Register to Become an Organ Donor Reminder: We're hobbyists, not experts. Please approach the content of this episode with that in mind, we encourage you to do your own research. Remember, facts and statistics can be misinterpreted or misused. If you're an expert on a topic we cover, we welcome additional information or corrections via our contact form on our website. Happy listening!

Content Warning: This podcast often uses explicit language and covers sensitive or distressing topics. It is NSFW. Listener discretion is advised. Stay tuned at the end of the episode for a special pod update! Dirtlings, Ellsworth and Big Spoon are ready to come out of stasis to go spelunking inside the Dirtstar and they’re taking you with them! Riley checks all the boxes off for the movies that terrified her as a kid: The Silence of the Lambs (1991), Pet Semetary (1989), and The Descent (2005) and details some fun facts and best quotes for the fellow Nerdlings out there. Ellie answers the distress signal by delivering every reason why you need to go watch Ridley Scott’s Alien (1979), after you finish this episode of course. She ends on the more lighthearted edge of horror franchises with Ron Underwood’s Tremors (1990). Listen, if you love a good sand-worm, tentacles and Kevin Bacon, this movie is right up your alley! Ellie and Riley head off to an unexplored Side Bar Planetoid to discuss stealing someone’s identity via skin-suit, badass women in film, Hereditary because why not, and a Terrible Ellsworth Would You Rather? that will make your skin crawl. Also, apologies for the loud audio in advance, the laughter was a mic blaster this time around! Check out episode sources, pictures, or any other goodies we may have found on our website. This episode is sponsored by our amazing Patrons: Tasha, BJ, Brian, Brent, Katrina, Carol and Count Chocula. You Dirtlings warm our dark little hearts! Special thanks to our show sponsor, The Phantom Moon Collection. Phantom Moon Collection is a small business jewelry brand started by our incredible friend, Natasha. Each piece is handmade with love, inspired by her favorite books, horror stories, and her three kitties, Bellatrix, Pumpkin, and Eevee. Use code DIRTLINGS for 15% off your order! Reminder: We're hobbyists, not experts. Please approach the content of this episode with that in mind, we encourage you to do your own research. Remember, facts and statistics can be misinterpreted or misused. If you're an expert on a topic we cover, we welcome additional information or corrections via our contact form on our website. Happy listening!

Content Warning: This podcast often uses explicit language and covers sensitive or distressing topics. It is NSFW. Listener discretion is advised. Dirtlings, Ellsworth and Big Spoon are taking you down the Reddit Rabbit Hole to figure out what's going on with the viral aliens in your feed! Riley gives the down low on the Garden Alien predicament in Great Britain, a defunct curiosity shop and the little Nazca humanoids found in a Peruvian airport. Ellie dredged up some very concerning yet hilarious videos from a real life Scooby Doo crew who chased down a suspicious cargo vehicle and theories of what the government could actually be towing under the cover of darkness. Keep your eyes peeled out in Garden Grove California, Dirtlings… Ellie and Riley also get off the Exit to Side Bar City to discuss technical difficulties, how being a robot could cause an existential crisis and our pets wondering why their spare human deviated from routine… How dare we! Check out episode sources, pictures, or any other goodies we may have found on our website. This episode is sponsored by our amazing Patrons: Tasha, BJ, Brian, Brent, Katrina, Carol and Count Chocula. You Dirtlings warm our dark little hearts! Special thanks to our show sponsor, The Phantom Moon Collection. Phantom Moon Collection is a small business jewelry brand started by our incredible friend, Natasha. Each piece is handmade with love, inspired by her favorite books, horror stories, and her three kitties, Bellatrix, Pumpkin, and Eevee. Reminder: We're hobbyists, not experts. Please approach the content of this episode with that in mind, we encourage you to do your own research. Remember, facts and statistics can be misinterpreted or misused. If you're an expert on a topic we cover, we welcome additional information or corrections via our contact form on our website. Happy listening!

Content Warning: This podcast often uses explicit language and covers sensitive or distressing topics. It is NSFW. Listener discretion is advised. Dirtlings, guess who’s in the Path of Totality? Your friendly neighborhood hosts Ellsworth and Big Spoon! That’s right, they are back after a break and ready to be swallowed up by the Dirtstar. Follow along as Riley recounts a disturbing yet beautiful encounter with shimmering spirit beings from r/NoSleep on Reddit and a sprinkle of tales about people who ultimately succumbed to the effects of a solar eclipse (allegedly-ish). Ellie spills the tea on internet driven conspiracy theories looming on TikTok, Old World religious beliefs that stood the test of time only to circle back to the modern era and of course Doomsday because come on Dirtlings, who can ignore all the synchronicities? They also park on the edge of Side Bar highway (jk unless it’s an emergency!) to chat about their probably haunted or raccoon infested neighbors, Ellie’s fiery pet dragon Meatloaf, do plants actually scream and safety tips for your solar viewing pleasure that won’t make much sense now that the Total Solar Eclipse of 2024 is over. Better luck on August 12th, 2026! This one will be viewable from the Arctic, eastern Greenland, northern Spain and Iceland. Tickets, please! Check out episode sources, pictures, or any other goodies we may have found on our website. This episode is sponsored by our amazing Patrons: Tasha, BJ, Brian, Brent, Katrina and Carol. You Dirtlings warm our dark little hearts! Special thanks to our show sponsor, The Phantom Moon Collection. Phantom Moon Collection is a small business jewelry brand started by our incredible friend, Natasha. Each piece is handmade with love, inspired by her favorite books, horror stories, and her three kitties, Bellatrix, Pumpkin, and Eevee. Use code DIRTLINGS for 15% off your order! Reminder: We're hobbyists, not experts. Please approach the content of this episode with that in mind, we encourage you to do your own research. Remember, facts and statistics can be misinterpreted or misused. If you're an expert on a topic we cover, we welcome additional information or corrections via our contact form on our website. Happy listening!

Content Warning: This podcast often uses explicit language and covers sensitive or distressing topics. It is NSFW. Listener discretion is advised. Dirtlings, Ellsworth and Big Spoon dug deep inside the Dirtstar and uncovered a local legend littered with unhinged side bars from one of the worst years ever, 2023. You are most welcome. Riley dives right into the tale of the Faust Lumberjack, a legend that has been haunting the Adirondacks for over a century. This story has all the genres and tropes we live for like a super isolated cabin in the woods, a loving family making a new life for themselves, a mysterious disappearance, an incredibly brutal axe murder situation and of course, a very messed up haunting as a result of restless spirits. What’s not to love? Ellie takes Riley off the beaten path and down to Side Bar Trail: they laugh over the infamously hot lumberjack on TikTok, tips for scrolling on that app for those late to the game, the Canadian Smog that was clouding up their town, Riley’s tonsil stones (smog related?), the wild stupidity of chickens, a widowed goose and Lucky Girl Syndrome. Give that last one a try; it’ll give you a good mental boost when silver linings are hard to find. Check out episode sources, pictures, or any other goodies we may have found on our website. This episode is sponsored by our brilliant Patrons: Tasha, BJ, Brian, Brent, Katrina and Carol. You Dirtlings warm our dark little hearts! Special thanks to our show sponsor, The Phantom Moon Collection. Phantom Moon Collection is a small business jewelry brand started by our incredible friend, Natasha. Each piece is handmade with love, inspired by her favorite books, horror stories, and her three kitties, Bellatrix, Pumpkin, and Eevee. Use code DIRTLINGS for 15% off your order! Reminder: We're hobbyists, not experts. Please approach the content of this episode with that in mind, we encourage you to do your own research. Remember, facts and statistics can be misinterpreted or misused. If you're an expert on a topic we cover, we welcome additional information or corrections via our contact form on our website. Happy listening!

Content Warning: This podcast often uses explicit language and covers sensitive or distressing topics. It is NSFW. Listener discretion is advised. Dirtlings, it’s Valentine's Day, which means it’s a great time to talk about love demons. Follow your hosts Ellsworth and Big Spoon down the tunnel of love to explore the origins of Cupid, from ancient Roman mythology, and to learn how to summon a tall, dark and handsome from the depths of Hell! Riley will recount the mythos of Cupid, born from the power couple Venus and Mars and stories of this cherubic baby/youth shooting things with his bow and arrows (some with passion, others with disgust) and how Cupid ultimately fell victim to his own power. Really it depends on the version of the lore you read, amirite? Low key, Riley thought Cupid may have been a demon more than a god but it turns out he was simply like his fam up in Mount Olympus: a total trickster. Ellie introduces us to various types of love demons and other seductive bed fellows as written in the Ars Goetia, one of five parts in the Lesser Key of Solomon and later translated by America’s favorite occultist Aleister Crowley. Ellie will also give us the deets on how to conjure Saleos, The Duke of Hell and Knight of Endless Darkness. Trust us, he’s the nicest of the Fallen Angels found in the Dirtstar thus far. Things take a wrong turn into the Side-Bar Circle of Hell where Ellie and Riley discuss My Strange Addiction (yes it’s the car guy), the woman who married a 300 year old pirate ghost whom she later divorced, giant tadpoles, love bugs (aka the March Fly Plecia Nearctica), and the wonderfully horrifying bugs who will be returning this summer in a once-and-a-lifetime synchronized emergence: Cicadas. Go ahead, I dare you to google it. Happy Valentine’s Day! Check out episode sources, pictures, or any other goodies we may have found on our website. This episode is sponsored by our perfect Patrons: Tasha, BJ, Brian, Brent, Katrina and Carol. You Dirtlings warm our dark little hearts! Special thanks to our show sponsor, The Phantom Moon Collection. Phantom Moon Collection is a small business jewelry brand started by our incredible friend, Natasha. Each piece is handmade with love, inspired by her favorite books, horror stories, and her three kitties, Bellatrix, Pumpkin, and Eevee. Use code DIRTLINGS for 15% off your order! Reminder: We're hobbyists, not experts. Please approach the content of this episode with that in mind, we encourage you to do your own research. Remember, facts and statistics can be misinterpreted or misused. If you're an expert on a topic we cover, we welcome additional information or corrections via our contact form on our website. Happy listening!

Content Warning: This podcast often uses explicit language and covers sensitive or distressing topics. It is NSFW. Listener discretion is advised. Dirtlings, we have another guest and friend of the pod inside the Dirtstar today! Kiwi joins Ellsworth and Big Spoon to share terrifying personal stories of astral projection, sleep paralysis and how to arrive in this spooky liminal space nearly at will. It helps to do lots of meditation or have several sleep disorders… Pick a struggle. So put on some cozy goth-lounge wear, brew some sleepy-time tea and join Kiwi, Ellie and Riley for a chill and laughter filled deep dive into what keeps you from a restful night's sleep or even a power nap, because sometimes you just leave your body. Whoops. The crew also take a trip to the Side-Bar Astral Plane to discuss Kiwi’s dark yet brightly colored mind, podcast equipment, whose body would be perfect to jump into for body hopping sleep demons, the astral projection sleep-team plan to elevate Kiwi and Ellie’s abilities in the dream world (Riley wants none of that action) and how to get all of their husbands in french maid outfits. Yeah, this needs to happen. Check out episode sources, pictures, or any other goodies we may have found on our website. This episode is sponsored by our beloved Patrons: Tasha, BJ, Brian, Brent, Katrina and Carol. You Dirtlings warm our dark little hearts! Special thanks to our show sponsor, The Phantom Moon Collection. Phantom Moon Collection is a small business jewelry brand started by our incredible friend, Natasha. Each piece is handmade with love, inspired by her favorite books, horror stories, and her three kitties, Bellatrix, Pumpkin, and Eevee. Use code DIRTLINGS for 15% off your order! Reminder: We're hobbyists, not experts. Please approach the content of this episode with that in mind, we encourage you to do your own research. Remember, facts and statistics can be misinterpreted or misused. If you're an expert on a topic we cover, we welcome additional information or corrections via our contact form on our website. Happy listening!

Content Warning: This podcast often uses explicit language and covers sensitive or distressing topics. It is NSFW. Listener discretion is advised. STAY TUNED AT THE END OF THE SHOW FOR A SNEAK PEAK: CHILDREN OF THE NIGHT! TLDR: Producer/Screenwriter Jason Ginsburg rocks Ellsworth’s and Big Spoon’s horror worlds with Classic Monster movie facts and anecdotes with behind the scenes knowledge and expertise from his time in the film industry, as they tell the classic tales of Gill-Man and Frankenstein’s Monster. Very Long and a Must Read: Dirtlings, a third person found their way inside the Dirtstar: Screenwriter, Producer and Classic Monster Enthusiast, Jason Ginsburg! Join your hosts Ellsworth and Big Spoon as they follow their special guest into the world of cinema: Classic Monster Edition. In 2023, Jason revamped a beloved golden oldie: The Monster Mash. Jason was the clever lyricist, working with the talented songwriter Eduardo García Rascón and incredible vocalist Brette Alana to create this new addition to your spooky playlist. Their ballad, Children of the Night is a fun and darkly-romantic take on the complete squad of classic monsters, all from the perspective of the ever present love interest. Links down below! Jason also gives us a behind the scenes look at his film and theatre education which prepared him for an incredible career in screenwriting and producing works for cinema, TV and web series such as Age of Stone and Sky: The Sorcerer Beast starring Corey Feldman, Jeffrey Combs and Allie Rivera Quinonez, Ask the Astronaut with literal former NASA Astronaut Micheal Massimino and Tales of Tinder, real stories from Tinder as told by puppets! Dirtlings, Jason has accomplished many more incredible feats, so check out his links down below for more, including his creation and longest-running comedy X project (FKA Twitter) : @FakeThemePark based on Jason’s adventures as a VIP tour guide and many other functions for Universal Studios Hollywood. Did we mention he works for Discovery Channel? Jason, what do you NOT do?! Also in this episode, Riley and Ellie dive into two classic creatures backed by Jason’s expertise: Gill-Man and Frankenstein’s Monster. Riley keeps it mostly light with the gut wrenching home invasion story of an ancient, amphibious being, his many triumphs over scientific study, kidnapping of lovely genius ladies and repeated escape from captivity. Ellie gives us a haunting breakdown of Mary Shelley, her tragic family history, the unrelenting love of her father William Godwin (philosopher and journalist) and Shelley’s beautiful tale of Frankenstein’s Monster, known as The Creature. All of us discuss the origins of these classic monsters, their cultural significance, and their impact on popular culture. We also explore the themes of science, morality, and humanity that are expressed through these classic monsters and their place in the world of cinema horror to this very day. Listen to Children of the Night and learn the origins: Children of the Night - Brette Alana on Spotify Monster Complex: Celebrating the Universal Monsters with the love song “Children of the Night” Where to find Jason: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasonginsburg https://www.jasonginsburg.com/ @FAKETHEMEPARK Where to find Eduardo García Rascón https://open.spotify.com/artist/59w3uEIR8uzYSBrdcrOEKm?si=Q93gA9asRhm59GiV7oqTcQ Where to find Brette Alana: https://open.spotify.com/artist/3FiaxmXcTrxZmleemWBZcS?si=LjlAgWT3TAKuM7vEjGhLUQ Check out episode sources, pictures, or any other goodies we may have found on our website. This episode is sponsored by our incredible Patrons: Tasha, BJ, Brian, Brent, Katrina and Carol. You Dirtlings warm our dark little hearts! Special thanks to our show sponsor, The Phantom Moon Collection. Phantom Moon Collection is a small business jewelry brand started by our incredible friend, Natasha. Each piece is handmade with love, inspired by her favorite books, horror stories, and her three kitties,...

Content Warning: This podcast often uses explicit language and covers sensitive or distressing topics. It is NSFW. Listener discretion is advised. Dirtlings, we hope you slept well last night because this episode might make you think twice before getting some much needed shut eye. Come on a journey with your hosts Ellsworth and Big Spoon to enter the realm of living nightmares deep inside the Dirtstar. But like really ‘cause this one is all about sleep paralysis! And why are there demons in here?! Riley details the perfect recipe for conscious-immobility with a dash of hallucinations, the myriad of causes for these terrifying experiences and how you can help put these sleep demons to rest with healthy habits and having your primary care provider on speed dial. Ellie reveals sleep demons and creatures from cultures around the world with a hard look at those who people tend to see the most such as the Djinn, the Hat Man and the Hag. She’s also got some creepy as hell stories to share from the internet about people who have seen unsettling things during their sleep paralysis episodes, along with the entity that may or may not be still haunting Ellie’s own waking dreams. It’s totally a sleep demon, just putting that out there. Check out episode sources, pictures, or any other goodies we may have found on our website. This episode is sponsored by our saintly Patrons: Tasha, BJ, Brian, Brent, Katrina and Carol. You Dirtlings warm our dark little hearts! Special thanks to our show sponsor, The Phantom Moon Collection. Phantom Moon Collection is a small business jewelry brand started by our incredible friend, Natasha. Each piece is handmade with love, inspired by her favorite books, horror stories, and her three kitties, Bellatrix, Pumpkin, and Eevee. Use code DIRTLINGS for 15% off your order! Reminder: We're hobbyists, not experts. Please approach the content of this episode with that in mind, we encourage you to do your own research. Remember, facts and statistics can be misinterpreted or misused. If you're an expert on a topic we cover, we welcome additional information or corrections via our contact form on our website. Happy listening!

Content Warning: This podcast often uses explicit language and covers sensitive or distressing topics. It is NSFW. Listener discretion is advised. We never know where the Dirtstar may lead us and this time the road was long, winding and full of ghostly holiday chortles. In this episode of haunting Christmas history and tales, Ellsworth takes Big Spoon off the beaten path, over the embankment and into the Hamlet of Sidebar, where typical off-air conversations are fully welcome and here for all Dirtlings to enjoy! Ellie dives into the history of Charles Dickens, the massively talented author whose body of work has inspired and entertained millions since the 1800’s. Each book has a deep underlying message for his readers, as Dickens attempts to teach others through lived experiences and a challenging upbringing what truly matters most (worker’s and children’s rights) especially in his timeless classic tale A Christmas Carol (1843). Riley recounts the creepy tale of Geoffrey de Mandeville II and his hell hound who haunt their old stomping grounds in London every six years around Christmas and also covers The Mistletoe Bride, which is a cautionary tale of exactly what games should not be played while drunk at a lavish party. Speaking of drunk, Ellie and Riley send themselves into fits of laughter around every corner while enjoying some wine, so grab a glass of your favorite holiday spirits and enjoy this special sidebar-episode! Ellie ends the episode by sharing a few ways you can celebrate Yule with a Yule alter, and what the symbols of the season entail. Check out episode sources, pictures, or any other goodies we may have found on our website. This episode is sponsored by our generous Patrons: Tasha, BJ, Brian, Brent, Katrina and Carol. You Dirtlings warm our dark little hearts! Special thanks to our show sponsor, The Phantom Moon Collection. Phantom Moon Collection is a small business jewelry brand started by our incredible friend, Natasha. Each piece is handmade with love, inspired by her favorite books, horror stories, and her three kitties, Bellatrix, Pumpkin, and Eevee. Use code DIRTLINGS for 15% off your order! Reminder: We're hobbyists, not experts. Please approach the content of this episode with that in mind, we encourage you to do your own research. Remember, facts and statistics can be misinterpreted or misused. If you're an expert on a topic we cover, we welcome additional information or corrections via our contact form on our website. Happy listening!

Content Warning: This podcast often uses explicit language and covers sensitive or distressing topics. It is NSFW. Listener discretion is advised. Since the recording of this episode, we’ve partnered with Phantom Moon Collection! Visit her site and use the code DIRTLINGS for 15% off your order :) and find her online @phantom.mooncollection. Dirtlings, you asked for this one, literally. Ellsworth devised a patron-poll with topics sure to ease us all into the winter months and Krampus won! Cozy up inside the Dirtstar with Ellie and Riley as we explore the dark and fascinating world of Krampus, the dark entity who bestows punishments to ill behaved children and his major comeback into mainstream media. Ellie delves into the origins of this Christmas beast, his wild goat-like appearance, the sack he carries for naughty children (or a basket sometimes; both will transport you to Hell sufficiently) and the role of Krampus in the Advent season, terrorizing misbehaved kiddos while Saint Nicholas rewards the good ones with presents! Riley reviews a top ten list of Krampus films and takes a deep dive into “Rare Exports: A Christmas Tale” (2010) from Jalmari Helander (listen, it’s Krampus adjacence, okay?) and Michael Dougherty’s hilarious dark comedy “Krampus” (2015). Major spoilers ahead everyone, you've been warned! Check out episode sources, pictures, or any other goodies we may have found on our website. This episode is sponsored by our magnificent Patrons: Tasha, BJ, Brian, Brent, and Katrina. You Dirtlings warm our dark little hearts! Special thanks to our show sponsor, The Phantom Moon Collection. Phantom Moon Collection is a small business jewelry brand started by our incredible friend, Natasha. Each piece is handmade with love, inspired by her favorite books, horror stories, and her three kitties, Bellatrix, Pumpkin, and Eevee. Use code DIRTLINGS for 15% off your order! Reminder: We're hobbyists, not experts. Please approach the content of this episode with that in mind, we encourage you to do your own research. Remember, facts and statistics can be misinterpreted or misused. If you're an expert on a topic we cover, we welcome additional information or corrections via our contact form on our website. Happy listening!

Content Warning: This podcast often uses explicit language and covers sensitive or distressing topics. It is NSFW. Listener discretion is advised. There’s never a bad time to delve into the rich and chilling history of vampyres, amirite? Join your hosts Ellsworth and Big Spoon to explore what's lurking in the Dirtstar: ancient folklore and mythology from different cultures that gave birth to the concept of vampyres! Weird… what’s that doing in there? Together, Ellie and Riley trace the evolution of these blood thirsty ghouls across time and geography, covering their humble beginnings, ‘brethren’ from various cultures, and a taste of some very important figures in vampyre lore such as Elizabeth Bathory and Vlad the Impaler, aka Dracula. We also discuss the modern interpretation of vampyres, examining their transformation from feared creatures of the night into romantic and tragic figures in pop culture. Fun! Have no fear Dirtlings, we also cover enough ground rules regarding vampyre safety to get you from cradle to coffin without getting bitten like, even once if you’re careful. Ellie also gives us the most vile Would You Rather? to ponder. Yes, your answer will be wrong and nobody wins here, but we love a good challenge. Check out episode sources, pictures, or any other goodies we may have found on our website. This episode is sponsored by strangeadornments.com, and by our amazing Patrons Tasha, BJ, Brian and Brent. Give Michelle a follow @strangeadornments and check out her uniquely empowering jewelry; all pieces are ethically sourced and made with the wearer in mind and at heart. Note: No vampyres or sandwiches were harmed during the making of this jewelry. If you know, you know. Reminder: We're hobbyists, not experts. Please approach the content of this episode with that in mind, we encourage you to do your own research. Remember, facts and statistics can be misinterpreted or misused. If you're an expert on a topic we cover, we welcome additional information or corrections via our contact form on our website. Happy listening!

Content Warning: This podcast often uses explicit language and covers sensitive or distressing topics. It is NSFW. Listener discretion is advised. Dirtlings, whether you believe in them or not, we’re pretty sure all of us have cringed just a smidge when stepping on a crack or ‘accidentally’ smashing a mirror to smithereens. Join your hosts Ellsworth and Big Spoon as we travel to the southernmost regions of the Dirtstar to discuss some curious superstitions! Riley will take ya’ll on a trip to the deep south to learn about modern traditions influenced by superstitions and lore from cultures around the world (there’s an interesting undertone of the color blue in these parts). Ellie pulls us through the looking glass for a glimpse into the ancient history behind the mysticism and mythos of mirrors, as well as the very long line of cultures and people that gave our reflections so much power. Ellie also tells us a hair-raising story submission from a Dirtling who had some very timely paranormal events happen to them after delving into esoteric writings such as Chaos Magick, the works of Aleister Crowley (Thelema) and more. You’re going to want to hear this one, Dirtlings; it’s nightmare fuel! To cap this spirit bottle off, we get a Terrible Ellsworth Would You Rather to ponder, sending us into a near existential crisis. Dirtlings, let us know what choice you would make and if you’d bring a fellow Dirtling along for the ride! Check out episode sources, pictures, or any other goodies we may have found on our website. This episode is sponsored by strangeadornments.com, and by our amazing Patrons Tasha, BJ, Brian and Brent. Give Michelle a follow @strangeadornments and check out her uniquely empowering jewelry; all pieces are ethically sourced and made with the wearer in mind and at heart. Note: No spirits were trapped in bottles to be sent down river in the making of this jewelry… …but I can’t make any promises about spirits of the distilled variety; those are supposed to be buried at the cemetery, right? Reminder: We're hobbyists, not experts. Please approach the content of this episode with that in mind, we encourage you to do your own research. Remember, facts and statistics can be misinterpreted or misused. If you're an expert on a topic we cover, we welcome additional information or corrections via our contact form on our website. Happy listening!

Content Warning: This podcast often uses explicit language and covers sensitive or distressing topics. It is NSFW. Listener discretion is advised. Dirtlings, we just can’t help ourselves: there’s one more topic we needed to sneak in for spooky season! The Devil’s Dirtstar is combining forces with Kinsey from The Good Old Days to uncover some truly intense and lesser known accounts of witch hunts and their subsequent trials throughout European History. Trust us when we tell you that the Salem Witch Trials were nearly a drop in the bucket in comparison! To follow up, and Big Spoon (Riley) will spill the witch’s brew on how selling magick in any form online is super hard nowadays unless you know the loopholes and Ellsworth (Ellie) will dive into some current and horrific stories of witchcraft related criminal investigations plaguing the modern day world. Oh, the good old days! Check out our website for links, pictures, or anything else interesting we may have found! Hey Dirtlings, Big Spoon here: I’m tellin’ you, go check out Kinsey and Ellie’s podcast The Good Old Days! It’s a hilarious journey into the past about all things absurd with the recommended dose of bizarre and is jam-packed with tales that are sure to leave you in stitches from the intriguing world of dark history! You can find everything you could want and more from The Good Old Days here: https://linktr.ee/ohthegod Go on now, you know you want to! Reminder: We're hobbyists, not experts. Please approach the content of this episode with that in mind, we encourage you to do your own research. Remember, facts and statistics can be misinterpreted or misused. If you're an expert on a topic we cover, we welcome additional information or corrections via our contact form on our website. Happy listening!

Content Warning: This podcast often uses explicit language and covers sensitive or distressing topics. It is NSFW. Listener discretion is advised. Happy Halloween, Dirtlings! In today’s episode, Ellsworth and Big Spoon are interviewing a very special guest: Christopher Byrne! Not only is he a Spiritual Minister and Advisor but also a Life Coach, Energy Healer and Psychic Intuitive Medium. Chris is going to take us on the journey of learning about his extrasensory abilities, how being an intuitive has impacted his life along with hundreds of others worldwide (pretty sure it’s actually thousands at this point), how his abilities has and can help people struggling with their spiritual identity and handling grief, the tools used to get in touch with the proverbial Other Side or beyond and what it truly means to be absolute spirit magnet. However you choose to celebrate this 2,000 year old tradition, whether it’s with lots of great candy (wrapped only, Dirtlings), delicious food, beautiful bonfire rituals, epic costumes, ceremonial robes or even just tried and true great company with some scary movies, we wish you all a very safe, spooky and Merry Samhain… Hey, what’s that behind you?! Hahahaha, gotcha Dirtling!!! Here’s where you can find Chris for some spicy therapy: Chris Byrne Upheld Psychic upheldpsychic@gmail.com Looking for any extra details, photos, and sources? Find them on our website. This episode is sponsored by strangeadornments.com Give Michelle a follow @strangeadornments and check out her uniquely empowering jewelry; all pieces are ethically sourced and made with the wearer in mind and at heart. Note: Ouija boards were not used to open portals during the making of this jewelry… Ellie and Riley already opened the portal as teenagers. Go ahead, ask us how that went. Reminder: We're hobbyists, not experts. Please approach the content of this episode with that in mind, we encourage you to do your own research. Remember, facts and statistics can be misinterpreted or misused. If you're an expert on a topic we cover, we welcome additional information or corrections via our contact form on our website. Happy listening!

Content Warning: This podcast often uses explicit language and covers sensitive or distressing topics. It is NSFW. Listener discretion is advised. An extra long episode for our most precious friend's birthday (you know who you are!) WARNING: 40 YEARS WORTH OF SPOILERS AHEAD Dirtlings, sometimes best laid plans go off the rails and down a mine shaft. Our chill and spooky After Hours episode turned into a deep dive of the Halloween movie franchise! Follow your hosts Ellsworth and Big Spoon headfirst down the Dirtstar to learn about one of the scariest horror villains of all time: Michael Myers. Riley is going to cover the ‘machete cut’ version of the movie timeline spanning a horrifying forty years of stabbery and unlucky babysitters while Ellie clocks every wild plot hole (despite confusing Jason Voorhees for Michael Myers), yet we still somehow make sense of it all in the end. She also has some stellar Halloween jokes for you to share with other fellow Dirtlings at a party of your choosing, some epic movies and series you NEED to check out during spooky season and of course, Ellie tops off the episode with a terrible Ellsworth Would You Rather. Don’t worry Dirtlings, we promise to cover hair-raising urban legends in an ACTUAL After Hours! Check out episode sources, pictures, or any other goodies we may have found on our website. This episode is sponsored by strangeadornments.com, and by our amazing Patrons Tasha, BJ, and Brian. Give Michelle a follow @strangeadornments and check out her uniquely empowering jewelry; all pieces are ethically sourced and made with the wearer in mind and at heart. Note: no babysitters were harmed in the making of this jewelry… I need a verbal ‘yes’ on that one, Michelle. Thanks in advance. Reminder: We're hobbyists, not experts. Please approach the content of this episode with that in mind, we encourage you to do your own research. Remember, facts and statistics can be misinterpreted or misused. If you're an expert on a topic we cover, we welcome additional information or corrections via our contact form on our website. Happy listening!

Content Warning: This podcast often uses explicit language and covers sensitive or distressing topics. It is NSFW. Listener discretion is advised. WARNING: LISTENER AND VIEWER DISCRETION IS ADVISED. WE ARE COVERING TOPICS THAT MAY OR MAY NOT CAUSE PHYSICAL REACTIONS OR MANIFESTATIONS. THE MIND IS A POWERFUL THING BUT SO ARE THESE DOLLS (ALLEGEDLY). Dirtlings, for this episode we both took one for the team. Join your hosts Ellsworth and Big Spoon far inside the Dirtstar and dip your toes into the world of HAUNTED DOLLS. Yup, that's right: Riley braved researching PERGER DA DERL to learn how one of the spirits inhabiting her tries to torment not only the owner, but also anyone viewing Pegs from their computer screen. She’ll also tell you how to snag a meet and greet with this haunted doll who now resides with none other than Zak Bagans at The Haunted Museum in Downtown Las Vegas. Ellsworth doubles down on why dolls can be absolutely horrifying by diving into the history of America’s most beloved haunted doll, Annabelle, who is the real life scary-as-hell Raggedy Ann Doll from The Conjuring Universe. Ellie will detail the dangerous escalation of Annabelle starting with what seems like odd but harmless mischief, to traumatizing ordeals and eventually the death of someone who dared to mock her at Ed and Lorraine Warren’s Occult Museum in Monroe Connecticut. Don’t worry about their museum being closed to the public; Ellie will tell you how to hunt down Annebelle thanks to Ed and Lorraine’s son in law Tony Spera who takes her to paranormal conventions. Yes, Dirtlings. There’s definitely going to be a waiver for you to sign. Check out pictures, our sources, and any other goodies we may have found on our website. This episode is sponsored by strangeadornments.com Give Michelle a follow @strangeadornments and check out her uniquely empowering jewelry; all pieces are ethically sourced and made with the wearer in mind and at heart. Note: no dolls or paranormal investigators were harmed in the making of this jewelry… …supposedly. Reminder: We're hobbyists, not experts. Please approach the content of this episode with that in mind, we encourage you to do your own research. Remember, facts and statistics can be misinterpreted or misused. If you're an expert on a topic we cover, we welcome additional information or corrections via our contact form on our website. Happy listening!

Content Warning: This podcast often uses explicit language and covers sensitive or distressing topics. It is NSFW. Listener discretion is advised. It’s spooky season Dirtlings and you want to know what is way more scary than monsters? Germs, Dirtlings. The answer is germs. Join Ellsworth and Big Spoon as we head into the Dirtstar to learn about pathogens that can cause severe illness in some and death in others! Ellie will teach us about Ignaz Sammelweis, a Hungarian physician who suspected that bacteria from autopsies was being spread to mothers about to hatch a baby or two by their doctors (ya know, the ones also messing around in the corpses) and his troublesome journey to being believed by his peers, mental health struggles and his untimely demise caused by the very thing he was trying to prove. Riley will teach us about Mary Mallon, aka “Typhoid Mary”, a perfect example of how lacking good hand hygiene can kill your bosses family and your co-workers (don’t get any ideas, now). Riley will also discuss in depth why Mary was set up for failure; being a poor Irish immigrant simply trying to stay above the poverty line, forced isolation and lots of mentions about handmade peach ice cream. And remember Dirtlings: Stay Dirty but wash your hands, ya filthy animals. Check out pictures, our sources, and any other goodies we may have found on our website. This episode is brought to you by www.strangeadornments.com Give Michelle a follow @strangeadornments and check out her uniquely empowering jewelry; all pieces are ethically sourced and made with the wearer in mind and at heart… NOTE: no peach ice cream or mothers were harmed in the making of this jewelry, I guess? Reminder: We're hobbyists, not experts. Please approach the content of this episode with that in mind, we encourage you to do your own research. Remember, facts and statistics can be misinterpreted or misused. If you're an expert on a topic we cover, we welcome additional information or corrections via our contact form on our website. Happy listening!

Content Warning: This podcast often uses explicit language and covers sensitive or distressing topics. It is NSFW. Listener discretion is advised. Greetings Dirtlings. Today’s episode is a serious one: Ellsworth is going to teach us about Directed Energy Weapons and a theory going around social media that such weapons are what started the fires in Maui on August 8th, 2023. There are other theories as to the origin of the fires and we will dive into several of them, along with what we believe led up to the devastation which may have been decades in the making. Big Spoon will give us a rundown of events that occurred on the island of Maui in Olinda, Kula and Lahaina and give a list of resources to those needing or wanting to help in any way that they can. Don’t worry, we will still end on a classic Ellsworth Would You Rather to take your mind off of lasers, climate change, unethical tourism and severe drought. This episode was recorded on September 2nd, please advise some information is dated. As always, do your own research! Check out our sources, pictures, and any other goodies we may have found on our website. RESOURCES: EMERGENCY HOUSING: 1-800-733-2767 (1-800-RED-CROSS) FIND LOVED ONES: 1-800 RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767) and select Option 4. Follow the voice prompts for "Hawaii Wildfires." FOR COUNSELING AND SUPPORT: DISASTER DISTRESS HOTLINE at 1-800-985-5990 HOW YOU CAN HELP: 1-800-RED CROSS (800-733-2767), or text the word HAWAII to 90999 to make a $10 donation. A link to the form is down below. https://www.redcross.org/content/dam/redcross/donations/2019_Updated%20IRF%20Form_v1_FINAL_RSG00000MCDF.PDF mauifoodbank.org/ civilbeat.org/2023/09/help-maui-fire-victims-heres-how-you-can-donate/ https://www.redcross.org/get-help.html redcross.org/about-us/news-and-events/news/2023/red-cross-helps-after-wildfire-and-hurricane.html charity.ehawaii.gov/charity/search.html This episode is sponsored by strangeadornments.com Give Michelle a follow @strangeadornments and check out her uniquely empowering jewelry; all pieces are ethically sourced and made with the wearer in mind and at heart. Reminder: We're hobbyists, not experts. Please approach the content of this episode with that in mind, we encourage you to do your own research. Remember, facts and statistics can be misinterpreted or misused. If you're an expert on a topic we cover, we welcome additional information or corrections via our contact form on our website. Happy listening!

Re-released on September 6th!! No, we didn’t just release a new episode, Ellsworth just accidentally republished an old one.. We let her out of her cage for two seconds and this is what happens. Don’t worry, we’re getting a better padlock. Content Warning: This podcast often uses explicit language and covers sensitive or distressing topics. It is NSFW. Listener discretion is advised. It's story time Dirtlings! Today, Big Spoon is going to tell you three epic tales of vengeance in Japan: the Soga Brothers, the Igagoe Vendetta at Iga Pass and to top it all off the Akō Vendetta aka the tale of the 47 Ronin. After story time, our cine-file friend Ellsworth will discuss how the tale of the 47 Ronin completely took over Japanese theater just days after the vendetta was over. Known as Chushingura, the tale lives on through Japanese classical theater such as Kabuki, Bunraku (puppeteering at its finest), period dramas and hell, the story has even been retold on the big screen with a legendary man that the internet just won't leave alone, Keanu Reeves. Note: Big Spoon can't pronounce the letter 'r' in Japanese but Ellsworth totally slays in this episode! Check out pictures, our sources, and any other goodies we may have found on our website. This episode is sponsored by strangeadornments.com Give Michelle a follow @strangeadornments and check out her uniquely empowering jewelry; all pieces are ethically sourced and made with the wearer in mind and at heart. No Ronin or puppets were harmed during the making of this jewelry… allegedly. Reminder: We're hobbyists, not experts. Please approach the content of this episode with that in mind, we encourage you to do your own research. Remember, facts and statistics can be misinterpreted or misused. If you're an expert on a topic we cover, we welcome additional information or corrections via our contact form on our website. Happy listening!