Ghoulish Tendencies

Appalachia holds its mysterious cards close, and with its cultural background, it is ripe for legend and lore that manifests into bizarre actual beliefs. Join us for a real Appalachian buffet of the strange and unusual. We've got it all: Cryptids, Native American lore, deformed humanoids, aliens, and unsolved disappearances. But what is believable, and what is just lore? Edited by Max Holechek

The classic tale of teen angst isn’t just remembered as a coming of age drama, it’s also notorious for all three of its leads meeting tragic fates… Where all three actors dying before the age of 45 is certainly tragic, how much was that was truly a curse and how much was it the inevitability of death claiming us all sooner or later? Edited by Maxwell Holechek

In 1985 a string of murders in Mineral Washington left police baffled. What initially seemed isolated became connected by a tube sock left on some of the victims. Piecing together suspects and looking for other connected murders has still left us with more questions than answers. Was this the work of a serial killer? Or a seeming tragic string of unconnected events? Audio Editing by Maxwell Holechek

This is a tale of two stories, really. One, an unsolved murder from hundreds of years ago fueled by romance, revenge, and politics, and the other, a modern-day criminologist and professor who began mapping medieval crimes to help better understand how the criminal justice system began and evolved. The two stories intertwined when said criminologist began to explore this cold case, and eventually, helped to come up with some resolutions, 686 years later. Why was John Ford murdered mafia-style in broad daylight in London back in 1337? What was his connection to English noblewoman, Ella FitzPayne, and was she really to blame? Dr. Manuel Eisner's pursuit of answers through the creation of Medieval Murder Maps helped unravel some of these questions that went unanswered for hundreds of years. Join us as we dissect both stories and better understand their intersection of history, crime, and political motive. References found at www.ghoulishtendencies.com. Audio Editing by Maxwell Holechek

In late 1803, a ghost started terrorizing Hammersmith London and soon led to a very real life murder. While walking home one night Thomas Millwood was tragically mistaken for the ghost and killed. And the ensuing murder trial raised a number of questions. Who was the Hammersmith ghost? Was it real or a prank?

On April 12th, 1981, Sheila Sharp came home to find her mother, brother and family friend brutally murdered and her younger sister missing. This kicked off a mystery that remains unsolved to this day and raises more questions than answers.

Deep in the heart of Cluj-Napoca, Romania lies what some call the "Bermuda Triangle of Romania." The Hoia Baciu Forest has quite the reputation of bizarre happenings - between reports of paranormal phenomena like UFO sightings, ghosts, weird energy fields, and a clearing where nothing living can grow, to mysterious red and orange lights and disappearing children, it’s even been the subject of lots of scientific research trying explain what exactly is going on there. But are these bizarre happenings explicable? What exactly is causing this serenely beautiful place to gain such a dark reputation? Edited by Maxwell Holechek

Happy New Year, Ghouls! You asked, and we answered. Literally. Thanks to those who are curious about the pod and what we do, this episode focuses on a Q&A posed to Kim and Gabi about the podcast! Thank you to those of you who asked questions and stay curious (and spooky). We had a blast!

In 2014 hiker Kenny Veach posted a YouTube video about his experience with a mysterious cave that left him shaking and with a strange feeling of dread. Prompted by other commenters, he would set out to find the cave again and never return… What happened to Kenny Veach? Did he get lost in the desert? Abducted by aliens? Start a new life someone somewhere? Does the mysterious M Cave exist or was it all an elaborate hoax? The quest for answers only leads to more questions. TW: Talk of suicide.

Since August 2007, at least 20 disembodied human feet have been found in shoes on the coasts of British Columbia and Washington state, with the most recent foot washing ashore this past summer. But why? Where did all of these disembodied feet come from? Was it another PNW serial killer dumping bodies into the Salish Sea? Was it foul play? Or was it a result of natural causes? And why just the feet? Join us as we put our best foot forward in undressing this weird podalic phenomenon. TW: brief discussion of suicide.

As one of America’s most iconic heroes, everyone knows Superman. But does everyone know that attached to Superman is a curse? From the untimely death of George Reeves to Christopher Reeves accident, America’s hero is steeped in tragedy. But like all stories, is it really a curse or a series of unfortunate events? TW: Talk of suicide.

With owners like Aleister Crowley and Led Zeppelin's Jimmy Page, and bizarre history of fires while allegedly being built atop a cemetery, the Boleskine House in the Scottish Highlands has quite the reputation. Did Aleister Crowley's occultist rituals leave behind evil remnants that continue to haunt the space, and leave him with the moniker "The Beast of Boleskine"? Did a local wizard in the 17th century really raise bodies of the dead, giving a local minister the not-so-fun job of having to put reanimated corpses back in their graves on that land?

In Part 2 of our two part episode, the case takes a turn for the bizarre when Alcala competes on an episode of The Dating Game. His killing spree was as far from over….join us as we dive into the remaining crimes, his capture, and ultimately a slew of potential victims still waiting to be identified.

Rodney Alcala grew to notoriety for having appeared on The Dating Game while he was in the midst of a murder spree. But what do we really know about him? In the first of this two part episode we look at Rodney’s early years, early arrests and far too many early releases which culminated in the start of a series of brutal murders. TW: Child abuse, rape, murder.

Vampires have always been terrifying, alluring, and mysterious. The folklore surrounding vampirism dates back centuries, and is still a hypnotic bite of lore today. But where did the lore come from originally? And how did such lore and fear of the unknown catapult the vampire epidemic to its peak? You think you may know, but do you? Join us for a deep dive into the history of vampire legend and lore, with a light splatter of vampiric tales as spooky season picks up momentum!

Franklin Castle is considered by some to be one of the most haunted places in the United States. But what’s the true history? Hannes Tiedemann had the castle built. Was he a monster who killed his children and servants, damning them to forever haunt the halls or was his story a product of people desperate for a good story to explain some of the strange happenings? Join us as we delve into the true history of Franklin Castle.

On September 19, 1961, Betty and Barney Hill were driving home from vacation when they experienced what we now know as the first well-documented, feasibly legitimate UFO abduction in history. With simultaneous amnesia, bizarre hints at an odd experience, and a feeling of lived trauma, their story shaped how stories like it were told—and understood—from then on. Through hypnosis, dreams and first-hand accounts, the Hills kept their story somewhat private, until it leaked in an article that shot them to national fame. But did it really happen? Join us for the ultimate Mulder and Scully experience!

Christina Kettlewell had only been married 8 days when her body would be found dead under mysterious circumstances. The ensuing investigation only amplified the bizarre circumstances surrounding her final months. How did she die? Was it suicide or could it have been murder? And how did her husbands longtime friend Ronald Barrie factor into the whole thing?

Most people have heard of the Los Feliz Murder House. If you have the internet, you’ve probably heard about it. A tale of a murder suicide in the 50’s during Christmas time, where a doctor had killed his wife, attempted to kill his daughter, then killed himself with Nembutal and pills. The house was then left as it was post murder for decades - a literal 1950’s time capsule - with rumors of the paranormal, eventually becoming a hot spot for dark tourism. In part two of this two part topic, we discuss the history of the house, the curse associated with it, and the weirdness of patterns of deaths and abandonment of the home for years. Is the house and property really haunted? Was it really lived in all those years? And who owns it now? Join us as we debunk this urban legend and bring some truth to the decades of bizarre stories. TW: murder and suicide.

Most people have heard of the Los Feliz Murder House. If you have the internet, you’ve probably heard about it. A tale of a murder suicide in the 50’s during Christmas time, where a doctor had killed his wife, attempted to kill his daughter, then killed himself with Nembutal and pills. The house was then left as it was post murder for decades - a literal 1950’s time capsule - with rumors of the paranormal, eventually becoming a hot spot for dark tourism. In part one of this two part topic, we discuss the details of what actually happened the night of December 6, 1959, deep dive into the Perelson family history, and try to dissect what caused such a horrific event. Stay tuned for part two! TW: murder and suicide.