Left of Skeptic

Happy Spooky Wednesday! Editor's Notes: Those author recommendations were Freida McFadden and the other one I couldn't remember... Lisa Unger. Also, watch Bridgerton. If our chat after the recording indicates anything, we'll probably mention it more. You might as well know what's going on. Okay, byyeeeeeee!

Happy Spooky Wednesday, dear listeners! We've got aliens and cryptids for you this week! First up, Kala talks about the Kelly-Hopkinsville Encounter, famous for being the start of the "little green men" description of aliens. In the 1950s, a farm house in Kentucky was visited by strange little creatures from outer space, and that family's lives were never the same again. But was it really aliens? Or was it a meteor... and some owls. Because apparently that makes more sense to some people. And Brittany talks about the Floridian cryptid known as The Skunk Ape. This smelly, strong, aggressive, cannibalistic creature as been lurking in Florida's nature for centuries. Is it a paranormal creature? An escaped zoo animal? An ancient creature that humans just never catalogued? We think the most important question is: Why does it like lima beans?

Happy Spooky Wednesday, folks! And a happy belated birthday to Kala’s Mom! We’re taking her listener request and starting the episode with a discussion of Grand Junction, Colorado! When Kala visited this city with her mom and aunt last July, she heard about one haunted location, but she had no idea how many more existed in the small city. Was there really that much nefarious activity in all these old buildings, or does the underground tunnel system mean that they all share hauntings? And Brittany talks about the real life story of The Herrmann House, the inspiration behind the horror movie classic know as Poltergeist! For over a month, this family was plagued by paranormal activity at the hands of a spirit they called “Popper”. Was there really a ghost? Was it the preteen child, Jimmy? Or was there a scientific explanation? We have no idea, but we have some theories! Editor's Notes: Alternative title: “Leave Jimmy alone!”

Happy Spooky Wednesday, everyone. It’s the moment Kala has been waiting for (at least for the last 99 episodes): EPISODE 169! Kala starts us off by taking about Incubus/Succubus/Incubi/Succubi, or as she calls them, BiBus. These evil spirits are known for sneaking into mortals homes and engaging in demonic trysts! But are they real, or just a product of a time that didn’t have science on its side? And Brittany talks about the sexiest cryptid she could find, that we haven’t already covered (Sorry Mothman). The Cadborosaurus, aka Caddy, is a kind of sea serpent found in the Pacific Coast. With a serpentine body and the head of either a horse or a camel or a bear, it’s guaranteed to freak you out if you see it. And while the description of the creature may be varied, the amount of sightings and similarities listed are enough to have us wondering if it’s real… Editor notes: Jane Bell's Mother Ate - there's a preview at the end of the episode, or listen to the full song here. And the beloved TikTok creator is @AtomicApplePie, a good example of their videos >>> here If you feel like upsetting yourself, Google "Bald Polar Bear" - you won't like it. Okay, byyyyyyyyyeeeeeeeee!

Happy Spooky Wednesday, everyone! We have a special guest, Chad Brown (AKA C-Silence), with us this week! You can catch him this Homegrown both solo, and with his group, Boog3ym3n! First up, Kala tells us all about the Wyoming Frontier Prison in Rawlins, Wyoming. This building opened in the early 1900s, and like all prisons from that time, it has a terrible history of mistreating prisoners and horrible conditions. Add in a bit of the "wild west frontier" vibe, and you've got the perfect recipe for a haunting. And Brittany, as she hinted at last week, tells us about The Dakota in New York City, New York. This Upper West Side Manhattan apartment building is home to many rich and famous people, and has been throughout its history. But an outrageous rent is not keeping the ghosties away. They're out here not living their best after-life, making sure all the celebrities in the building know that they're still around. It is the last week to enter for a chance to win a week-long Homegrown Music Festival pass! (That's a $40 value, y'all!) Listen for the code word this episode, and be sure you've gotten the code words out of the last three episodes! DM us on Facebook or Instagram with the words and you'll be entered! We'll draw on Friday, April 26th, and contact the two winners on whatever platform they messaged us with! Thank you so much for participating this month, and thank you to all the special guests who came by and had fun with us!

Happy Spooky Wednesday, folks! This week we have another special guest! Fearless leader of the Twin Ports Horror Society, member of more Duluth bands than we can count, and Co-Director of the Homegrown Music Festival: Cory Jezierski. In honor of his visit, we have selected two horror-themed stories this week. First, Kala talks about The Exorcism if Roland Doe, the inspiration behind the famous movie The Exorcist. And Brittany talks about the curse surrounding the iconic film Rosemary’s Baby. So many people who worked on this film seem to have met a sudden and sad end. And while Kala plays it off like she thinks it is a coincidence, Brittany isn’t so convinced, and she’s not so sure Kala doesn’t believe either. Sadly, there is no coverage of Dracula Furries (despite the title). Make sure to listen for the code word and message us on Facebook or Instagram for your chance to win a weeklong pass to the Duluth Homegrown Music Festival!

Happy Spooky Wednesday, friends! We've got special guest Breanne Marie of Breanne Marie and the Front Porch Sinners with us this week! First up, Kala talks about The Mizpah Hotel and The Clown Motel in Tonopah, Nevada. The Mizpah is a historic hotel that got its start during a mining boom, and has continued for over a hundred years to provide people with excellent service, a fun experience, and ghosts. Each floor from the fifth down to the basement holds the potential for the paranormal including a Lady in Red, giggling ghostly children, and menacing miners. And what better way to celebrate having one of Duluth's queens of country in the studio than to talk about an outlaw! Brittany talks about Jesse James and his family's farm. Jesse and his family, it turns out, were not great people. And their ghosts have stuck around to remind us of that. ***Make sure to listen for the Homegrown Code Word and send us a message!! We are giving away two week-long wristbands to this year's Duluth Homegrown Music Festival! Each episode in April, we will have special guests that are involved in the festival, we will be sharing a special code word in the episode. All you have to do is DM us the code word on Facebook or Instagram, and you will be entered in for the drawing, and we will announce the two lucky winners on Friday, April 26th! Each listener can enter once per episode, up to a total of four entries for the contest! We will message the winners on whichever platform they used to enter, and we will work out the details on how to get you your wristband, cozy, and patch!

Happy Spooky Wednesday and Happy Homegrown month, dear listeners! This week we have special guest Abe Curran of Winzige Hosen and many other Duluth bands! First up, Kala talks about Red Onion Saloon in Skagway, Alaska! This building was once a brothel during the Klondike Gold Rush in the late 1800s. It’s now a popular restaurant and bar that has embraced its history in the form of both its brothel museum and it’s ghostly inhabitants. When you visit, will the encounters be of the sensual kind or “push me down the stairs” kind? And Brittany tells us all about the Dybbuk box. This story has us screaming “WHY, KEVIN!?” as our story’s protagonist misses all the hints and makes a bunch of dumb choices. If you had a cursed object, would you pass it along to all your family members? No? That’s what we thought. Remember to listen for the code word to enter in our Duluth Homegrown Music Festival weeklong wristband giveaway! Once you know the code word, DM it to us on FB or Insta and be entered in for a chance to win! We will announce the winners on Friday, April 26th! Special thank you, again, to Abe Curran for joining us this week!

Happy Spooky Wednesday, folks! We’ve got a haunted home and a freaky factory for you this week! Kala talks about The Hinsdale House, also known as the Dandy House, in Hinsdale, NY. This old home was made popular in the 70s when the Dandy family reported being bombarded with paranormal activity while they resided in the old barn house. Objects moved, shadow figures were seen, and there may have even been some possession! And while there were attempts to cleanse the house, it doesn’t not appear those attempts were successful. And Brittany talks about Sloss Furnaces in Birmingham, AL. This historic landmark has a history full of terrible supervisors, industrial accidents, and other non-OSHA approved activities. The spirits who perished there still reside in the building. Who will you see? The man who was sucked into the industrial gears? Or maybe “Slag” the manager who overworked the workers and died in a very T2-esque accident? Either way, we’re pretty sure it’s not something you want to see. www.leftofskeptic.com

Happy Spooky Wednesday, everyone! First up, Kala talks about the famous Lake Lanier, a man-made lake in Georgia, often considered one of the most deadly lakes in the United States. This lake was built over what was once a thriving community, and though they cleared up some of the things people left behind, there is still plenty left in the depths of the water including building debris, old roads and vehicles, and even graves. Hundreds of deaths have occurred on this lake since its beginning, leaving some people to believe that the lake is haunted or maybe even cursed due to its horrible history. And Brittany tells us all about The House of Wills in Cleveland, Ohio. This former funeral home was once founded and ran by a pretty rad sounding man named John Walter Wills. And the gothic brick building had a fascinating history before Wills took it over. All that history has led to a hustle and bustle of ghostly activity within the building! We finish up the episode with a listener story by the ever-amazing Gina Gleason!

Happy Spooky Wednesday, everyone! We’ve got ghosts and eyeballs for you this week! First up, Kala heads back to the Midwest to talk about The American Club in Kohler, WI. This five star resort is known for its golf courses, restaurants, many amenities, and it’s lesser known for its ghosts. If you roam the halls you may hear strange voices, encounter cold spots, or possibly even see an apparition of the flannel ghost! And Brittany talks about the genetic condition known as central heterochromia. Characterized by different colors in the eye, it looks pretty dang cool. But is it just cool? Or a sign that you’re linked to the spiritual world? Brittany has it! Kala doesn’t. Does this mean Brittany is magical, and Kala is not? Take a listen to determine for yourself!

Happy Spooky Wednesday, folks! We’ve got a historic episode this week, literally. Full of history. First up Kala talks about Anne Boleyn and the many places she haunts. This woman has been vilified throughout history, but was she the villain or was she a victim? And has this caused her to stick around multiple locations long after death? And Brittany tells us about the Royal Hope Hospital in St. Augustine, FL. Playing an important part in many wars, this location has seen a lot of death, and it has the apparitions to prove it. What happens if you visit? Will you see an orb? Feel an icy hand? Or possibly be scratched with a message from the dead? All we know is, WE DON’T WANT IT.

Happy Spooky Wednesday folks! We’re going full X-Files this week with a Kala takeover where she discusses the Roswell incident and Area 51. In the late 1940’s a mysterious and unidentified object crash landed in a field. This was followed by leading newspaper headlines, sketchy government involvement, and way too many conspiracy theories to count. This is, by far, one of the most referenced events when people discuss the mystery that is Area 51. But what is really going on out there in the Nevada desert? Weapons or UFOs? Soldiers or Aliens? Analysis or control? Maybe all of the above?

Happy Spooky Wednesday, everyone! We’ve got a Brittany episode take over this week as she finishes telling us the extremely interesting tale of Mel’s Hole. And if you think you know the direction this story is going, trust us, you’d be wrong. When Art checks back in with Mel, it turns out he’d had quite the ride, including but not limited to: - saving wombats in Australia - losing almost two weeks of his life and his teeth - discovering other mystery holes out there - possibly finding a cure for cancer? How does this all happen? You need to listen to find out!

Happy Spooky Wednesday! We have a very Art Bell-heavy episode for you today. First, Kala talks about one of the most famous calls on Coast to Coast AM, the Area 51 caller. A frantic man called into the show and claimed that he used to work for Area 51. After a short and panicked conversation, the transmission was lost, and so was the call. Coincidence or interference? People have theories, but no one knows for sure. And Brittany continues on with the story of Mel’s Hole. After the continued investigation into what exactly is going on with mysterious well in the ground, the government took control of the area, and made it known to Mel that he was not supposed to interfere. After another conversation with Art, we learned that Mel had a decision to make: back off and leave it an unanswered mystery, or follow the advice of Art’s listeners and find answers by any means necessary!

Happy Spooky Wednesday, and welcome back to our regularly scheduled programming! This week Kala starts with the ultimate of all deep sea cryptids, The Kraken! This legendary monster has been blamed for centuries as the reason for the disappearance of ships and sailors. But is it real? And if it’s real, is it paranormal? All we know for sure is most of the ocean is unexplored and really freaking scary. And Brittany tells us all about Mel’s Hole. We promise it’s not as dirty as it sounds, but it does make us giggle. This “bottomless pit” in Washington state is a giant mystery. People have thrown their trash and even dead animals down this hole for years, and it shows no signs of filling up. It runs for miles beneath the surface… what could possibly be down there? What do you think?

Happy Spooky Wednesday! For our last week of True Crime January we are heading home and revisiting a location from our first-ever episode! Glensheen Mansion is a gorgeous, historic building on the shores of Lake Superior in Duluth, MN. Built for a family that helped build Duluth as we know it today, it would be interesting just for its structure. But it’s got more than that going for it… it’s got ghosts. For decades, employees and visitors alike have reported strange experiences in the house and on the grounds. If you visit you might experience anything from an uneasy feeling all the way to a full blown apparition. There may have been some haunting we’ve questioned in the past, but this one has us fully convinced.

Happy Spooky Wednesday, everyone! It is the fourth week of True Crime January, and this week we are telling you about the Sayre House Murders. While the events that happened in the home are tragic, they are nothing compared to the bizarre series of events that happened after the suspect was apprehended. What will you find the weirdest? The sentencing? The science experiments? The accessories made from murderer skin? Or the fact that this building became a string of different restaurants until finally, it became a TD Bank? Buckle in... this one is a whirlwind!

Happy Spooky Wednesday! For our third week of 2024 True Crime January, we’ve got the notorious Axeman of New Orleans. This serial killer stalked New Orleans and the surrounding areas in the early 1900s. For over a year, this man brutally ended the lives of many using the tools he found in the homes, especially axes. The Axeman was never identified, and the murders remain unsolved. Is his spirit still lingering on the streets of New Orleans? Or is it just a bad memory that continues to plague the minds of the locals?

Happy Spooky Wednesday, dear listeners! We are in the second week of True Crime January 2024, and we are covering "the most diabolical crime ever committed in Savannah," the Savannah Axe Murders, sometimes known as the Gribble House murders. This triple homicide caused widespread panic in the city, and it quickly became national news. After a LARGE string of (bullsh*t) arrests in Savannah, they finally caught the killer. We wish that was the end of the story, but sadly, this is a messy, terrible chapter in U.S. history. The story goes so much deeper than that. It is no wonder spirits have stuck around the property when there are so many pieces that remain unresolved. Content warning: Racism, murder, and descriptions of death