There Might Be Cupcakes Podcast

In which Carla revisits the Victorian Christmas tradition of scary stories at Christmas by reading four horror classics of the era--and, in doing so, explores the not-well-known genesis of Dickens' A Christmas Carol, as well as the four-hundred-year-old origins of “Deck the Halls”. Things get silly and eerie in turn. Come sit by the fire and enjoy some cupcakes and wassail. (Original episodes from 2017 and 2018 with new content) Original episodes: 32: What the Dickens47: Victorian...

In which Carla shares personal stories from childhood Christmases, and shares how she and her family found cupcakes in the unlikeliest of places. These are the stories that weren't funny then, but are now. Originally aired December, 2017; now with new music Website entry for this episode (photographs and books): theremightbecupcakes.com/episode31christmascupcakes Theme song and stinger: “Comadreamers I” by Haunted Me, off their Pleasure album:...

In which Carla reads several of her poems live. “and the hunter always followed deep into the forest of campus down the wide lane of Avent Ferry into the shelter of my first home my Mews, I your dark muse on foot or by car, you followed my ex-boyfriend, my attacker ("This girl just had a bad date") Stalking your prey Watching me Your arrow cocked Your cock bowed Reveling in the hunt REVELNIT my license plate said and o you must have laughed as you followed its beacon in the...

In which Carla shares more of her past and present personal paranormal experiences in her second live episode. To watch this episode, you may go to either to GetVokl or to YouTube. Resource: My Letterboxd list of my favorite haunted house/demented domicile films: https://boxd.it/7CzKy Sound credit: horror movie Eli (2019) Theme song and stinger: Comadreamers by Haunted Me, off their Pleasure album: https://freemusicarchive.org/music/Haunted_Me/Pleasure/ How to Support...

In which Carla shares all of her past and present personal paranormal experiences in her first live episode. To watch this episode, you may go to either to GetVokl or to YouTube. Website entry: Haunting resources (including my Waverly Hills photos) theremightbecupcakes.com/resources-hauntings Suggested Reading—Books Referenced in Episode (links to Bookshop.org, supporting independent bookstores and There Might Be Cupcakes): Unleashed: Of Poltergeists and Murder: The Curious Story of Tina...

In which Carla explores all the different incarnations of Childe Roland and his Dark Tower quest throughout history. Referenced and related episodes: Episode 19: The King’s Eclipse: https://www.theremightbecupcakes.com/episode-19-kings-eclipse/ Listen at Podchaser Episode 54: Gilead: Meaning in Place Listen at Podchaser Suggested Reading (links to Bookshop.org, supporting independent bookstores and There Might Be Cupcakes): Stephen King’s The Dark Tower ConcordanceThe Dark Tower...

In which Carla celebrates World Book Day by reading from her own novel in progress, working title Bonnie Mommie, that she first read from in episodes 2: Casey Anthony and Bonnie MacNara and 8: Toxic Doxology. Referenced episodes on official website: 2: Casey Anthony and Bonnie MacNara 8: Toxic Doxology Theme song and stinger: “Comadreamers I” by Haunted Me, off their Pleasure album: https://freemusicarchive.org/music/Haunted_Me/Pleasure/ How to Support Cupcakes: Sponsor:...

In which Carla reads a lesser-known Poe story, "The Oval Portrait". Show Notes: Story Read: "The Oval Portrait”, Edgar Allan Poe, April 1842 Read online with linked vocabulary words and references at Poestories.com Recommended Reading: The Picture of Dorian Gray, by Oscar Wilde, Norton Critical Edition Referenced Episodes: Poe and Carla and Cupcakes: Nicetomeetcha SweetElegant NastinessExquisite Mayhem Sources: Edgar Allan Poe A to Z: The Essential Reference to His Life and...

In which Carla explores a favorite horror author of Victorian England, and finds an marvelous polymath, an LGBTQ icon, and a woman who rescued ancient Egypt and explored terra incognita. Show Notes: Story read: “The Phantom Coach”, Amelia B. Edwards Recommended Reading: The Collected Supernatural and Weird Fiction of Amelia B. Edwards Crocodile on the Sandbank (Amelia Peabody no. 1)https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/62851.Amelia_B_Edwards Referenced episodes: 32: What the...

In which Carla reads again from her novel-in-progress, Watching the Detectives. And they were all rich. Rich in looks, rich in opportunity, rich in already wasted opportunities, rich in network, and rich in funds. And rich in frustrations, many of which they could not even name. --Carla Pettigrew Hufstedler, Watching the Detectives Theme song and stinger: “Comadreamers I” by Haunted Me, off their Pleasure album: https://freemusicarchive.org/music/Haunted_Me/Pleasure/ Promo: Rebel Girls...

In which Carla tells two stories that explain finding cupcakes in dark places: one is her story, one is Leonard Cohen's. Referenced reading: The Flame, by Leonard Cohen: his full acceptance speech for the Prince of Asturias Award, on October 21, 2011, from which I quoted in this episode, begins on page 267. Leonard Cohen at Apple Music Greg Behrendt, “There Might Be Cake”, Original Uncool (2011): Apple Music, Spotify My favorite happy socks. I own several sets, and I like to mix and...

In which Carla reads a Turkish folktale about a boy who goes on a quest to find out what fear is. Sources: Story: "The Boy Who Found Fear At Last", collected first by Ignaz Kunos, from the Olive Fairy Book, Andrew Lang Music: Podcast theme song and stingers: “Comadreamers I” by Haunted Me, off their Pleasure album: https://freemusicarchive.org/music/Haunted_Me/Pleasure/ How to Support Cupcakes: Sponsor: Audible Sponsor: Birchbox Sponsor: Care/Of Vitamins Patreon: Cupcakes Flattr:...

In which Carla investigates why the place in Margaret Atwood's The Handmaid's Tale is called Gilead. Books referenced: The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood The Testaments by Margaret Atwood The Handmaid's Tale: The Graphic Novel by Margaret Atwood and Renee Nault Sources: Easton’s Bible Dictionary International Standard Bible Encyclopedia New Revised Standard Version Bible translation (NRSV) The Center for Judaic Studies, Lawrence E. Stager: The Song of Deborah Who was...

In which Carla further explores the Three Mothers horror movie series--Suspiria, Inferno, and Mother of Tears--as started in the episode Elegant Nastiness, by examining Luca Guadagnino's 2018 remake of Suspiria, taking a fresh look at Suspiria's influence, the fairy tale "Little Snow White", and taking a deep dive into the themes of identity, sleep and dreams, and, of course, motherhood. Sources: Books referenced: “Little Snow White”: The Complete First Edition of The Original Folk and...

In which Carla interviews horror author Mike Bockoven, creator of FantasticLand (2016) and Pack (2018). Mike Bockoven: Facebook: facebook.com/BockovenBooks Twitter: @mikebockoven Instagram: @mikebockoven FantasticLand Pack How to Support Cupcakes: Sponsor: Audible Sponsor: Birchbox Sponsor: Care/Of Vitamins Patreon: Cupcakes Flattr: flattr/@theremightbecupcakes Where to Find Cupcakes: Facebook Page: theremightbecupcakes Facebook Group: There Might Be Cupcakes Twitter:...

In which Carla dives deep into the mythology of the Three Mothers, Maters Suspirioum, Mater Tenebrarum, and Mater Lacrymarum of the Dario Argento and Luca Guadgnino horror movies, and explores dance and architecture as spellwork, as well as a tie-in to Disney and the fairy tales of the Grimm Brothers. Book referenced: Horror! 333 Movies to Scare You to Death by James Harriott and Kim Newman Source for music snippet: Goblin, "Suspiria", Suspiria soundtrack, link; Publication date 1977;...

In which Carla celebrates episode 50 by answering the questions of the Proust Questionnaire. Books to read: Vanity Fair’s Proust Questionnaire: 101 Luminairies Ponder Love, Death, Happiness, and the Meaning of Life Referenced Episodes: This Girl Just Had A Bad DateA Different World Family TreesCasey Anthony and Bonnie MacNaraWatching the DetectivesWatching the Detectives Part 2 How to Support Cupcakes: Sponsor: Audible Sponsor: Birchbox...

In which Carla talks about where she has been--in complex PTSD therapy and in major EDS flareup--and reviews the very best books she has read this year, in therapy and, of course, for fun. Much horror and true crime was enjoyed. Referenced Episodes: This Girl Just Had A Bad DateA Different WorldThe Mill GirlRecommended Reading: CPTSD: Traumatic Stress: The Effects of Overwhelming Experience on Mind, Body, and Society by Dr. Bessel van der KolkThe Body Keeps the Score: Brain, Mind, and...

In which Carla celebrates two lives well lived, one in letters, one in play, both in finding and making cupcakes. Both lives have anniversaries in January: Mary Oliver, and Carla's younger brother, Eric. Source for Mary Oliver’s reading her poem “Wild Geese”: https://soundcloud.com/brainpicker/mary-oliver-reads-wild-geese (https://www.brainpickings.org/2014/09/24/mary-oliver-reads-wild-geese/) Link to full Instagram watercolor and tribute on There Might Be Cupcakes account:...

In which Carla revisits the Victorian Christmas tradition of scary stories at Christmas by reading two classics of the era--and, in doing so, explores the not-well-known genesis of Dickens' A Christmas Carol, to boot. Things get silly and eerie in turn. Come sit by the fire and enjoy some cupcakes and wassail. Related and Referenced Episode: 32: What the Dickens Facebook Page: theremightbecupcakes Facebook Group: There Might Be Cupcakes Twitter: mightbecupcakes Instagram:...