Altar Ego

Altar Ego

Hosted by two close friends, one a therapist raised Southern Baptist, now agnostic; the other a spiritually curious ex-Catholic who believes in ghosts and is terrified of demons... we dive into dark tales and crimes committed in the name of God (or the devil). Through ethical retellings of possessions, prophecies, cults, and beliefs, we investigate spirituality, belief systems, and the ambiguous psychological spaces in between.

  1. 1 DAY AGO

    Episode 21: Donnie Decker "The Rain Boy" + Poltergeists

    CW: Brief mentions of child abuse and SA. In this follow-up episode, we discuss the case of a man now known as “The Rain Boy,” Donnie Decker, who became the center of an odd 1983 case in which witnesses claimed water appeared inside with no clear source. Rather than asking only what happened, this episode, Jeri walks us through a different curiosity: what can happen when the body's survival responses are activated and unresolved? Through the lens of fight, flight, freeze, and fawn, we explore how humans successfully metabolize and/or struggle to metabolize extreme emotional experiences, all anchored in a phenomenon-based theory of how those processes may shape what and how we perceive things.

    1h 8m

  2. 4 FEB

    Episode 20 Behind the Hauntings: The Rise and Controversy of the Warrens

    Ed and Lorraine Warren are two of the most recognizable names in paranormal history. Demonologists, ghost hunters, and the couple behind some of the most famous haunting cases of the 20th century. But before the movies, the mythology, and the merch, they were just two people who found each other and built something much bigger than themselves. In this episode, Heather traces how the Warrens met, how their partnership formed, and how they transformed into the supernatural powerhouses that would shape modern paranormal culture. From early investigations to the creation of their public image, we break down what was real, what was strategic, and what was carefully cultivated…allegedly.  We also address the more recent scandalous rumors surrounding Ed Warren. Why they resurfaced years later, where the claims came from, and how they complicate the legacy. Join Heather and Jeri for a deep dive into how belief, ambition, faith, and controversy collided, and how the Warrens became legends. Sources: About the Warrens. Warrens.net, NESPR. https://warrens.net/about/ Kranc, Lauren. “The New Conjuring Movie Is Based on the Real Story of a Murderer Who Claimed He Was Possessed.” Esquire, June 4, 2021. https://www.esquire.com/entertainment/movies/a36634853/true-story-the-conjuring-the-devil-made-me-do-it/ Fact or Fearmongering? Dissecting the Warrens’ Novels. USGhostAdventures.com, April 8, 2024. https://usghostadventures.com/haunted-stories/fact-or-fearmongering-dissecting-the-warrens-novels/ Harvey, Austin. "The Disturbing Allegations Of Ed And Lorraine Warren’s Abuse And The Evidence Behind Them." AllThatsInteresting.com, October 23, 2024, https://allthatsinteresting.com/ed-and-lorraine-warren-abuse “By Demons Possessed,” The Washington Post, Lynn Darling, September 13, 1981. Originally published as “By Demons Possessed: It Began in a Dream House and Ended in Death.” Accessed Jan 2, 2025

    2h 1m
  3. Episode 19: The Hat Man

    4 FEB

    Episode 19: The Hat Man

    What... or who is the Hat Man, and why do so many people describe the same figure? In Part 1 of this two-part series, Jeri explores the Hat Man phenomenon: a shadowy “watcher” reported across cultures and decades. We look at what people consistently report, why these encounters often happen in liminal states like sleep paralysis, half-awake moments, exhaustion, and high fear, and how stress may shape perception. Editor's note: This episode has a notably different audio quality, and it has been resolved. Apologies from the team for the poor quality and delayed publishing, but we wanted to release it for you all regardless. -Heather + Jeri

    1h 6m

  4. 21 JAN

    Episode 18: The Curse of Led Zeppelin + Ties to Aleister Crowley

    CW: This episode includes discussion of child death, addiction (alcoholism and drug use), and mental health crisis, as well as death, grief, and occult themes. Listener discretion advised. Led Zeppelin didn’t just reshape rock music; they became wrapped in something far darker. Tragedy, strange coincidences, and enduring rumors have fueled the legend of the so-called Curse of Led Zeppelin for decades. In this episode, we examine where myth ends and history begins. From the band’s use of occult symbolism to the personal obsessions that blurred artistry and belief, we explore how mysticism became part of Led Zeppelin’s identity. At the center of it all looms one controversial figure whose influence on counterculture is impossible to ignore: Aleister Crowley. Was this simply provocative imagery, or did fascination with the occult invite something darker? We unpack the stories, the tragedies, and why this legend refuses to fade. Sources:  Encyclopædia Britannica. “Aleister Crowley | Biography, Teachings, Reputation, & Facts.” Britannica, November 6 2025. https://www.britannica.com/biography/Aleister-Crowley“Boleskine House.” Wikipedia, The Free Enclyclopedia. Retrieved November 19 2025, from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boleskine_House#CITEREFWall2010Banulescu, Eduard. “Jimmy Page’s Occult Interests: From Alchemical Symbols to Aleister Crowley.” Alt77, February 1 2024. https://alt77.com/jimmy-page-occult-interests/  The Revolver Club. “The Curse of Led Zeppelin.” The Revolver Club, 18 April 2024. https://www.therevolverclub.com/blogs/the-revolver-club/the-curse-of-led-zeppelin?srsltid=AfmBOopCCb86uUIQoc-RD784hXlku5mnX17TnbAB1xAha9_Ua-KUpACc

    1h 32m

  5. 7 JAN

    Episode 17: Suicide Cult + Teal Swan

    CW: This episode includes discussion of suicide, mental health crises, emotional abuse, and coercive or controlling dynamics in spiritual spaces. Listen with care. In this episode, we take a deep look at Teal Swan; her rise as a spiritual influencer, the community that formed around her, and the serious concerns raised by former followers, journalists, and mental-health professionals. Drawing from long-form investigations, documentaries, and Teal Swan’s own published content, Heather walks us through how language, authority, and vulnerability can intersect in powerful and dangerous ways. We discuss the ethical responsibility of spiritual leaders, the blurred lines between self-help and control, and why certain teachings raise red flags when viewed through the lens of trauma-informed psychology, consent, and harm reduction. This episode centers on accountability, critical thinking, and compassion for those impacted. We believe belief systems deserve examination, especially when they hold real-world consequences. Sources: “The Deep End.” Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Deep_End_(2022_TV_series) “The Gateway: Teal Swan.” Gizmodo. https://gizmodo.com/tag/the-gateway “Teal Swan.” YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/@TealSwanOfficial

    2h 12m

  6. 31/12/2025

    Episode 16: Postpartum Psychosis + Andrea Yates

    CW: This episode includes discussion of postpartum psychosis, suicidality, psychiatric hospitalization, and child death. No graphic details are included. Listener discretion is advised. This episode examines the case of Andrea Yates, a mother whose dismissed postpartum psychosis led to the deaths of her five children in 2001. Jeri guides Heather and listeners through how severe mental illness, ignored medical warnings, lack of community, rigid gender roles, and fear-based religious pressure converged into a catastrophic systemic failure. Through a trauma-informed lens, this episode unpacks what postpartum psychosis is and why protecting maternal mental health, as a society, is critical. Sources + Resources: ​Andrea Yates – Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andrea_Yates​Texas v. Yates (2002; 2006 retrial) – Court records summarized in major reporting and academic reviews. ​National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI) Postpartum Psychosis: A Review.​Psychiatry Online (American Psychiatric Association) https://psychiatryonline.orghttps://www.uptodate.com​Michael Woroniecki – Wikipedia.https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_Woroniecki​Guidelines on psychosis, mood disorders, and forensic evaluations. https://www.psychiatry.org Postpartum Support International (PSI) https://www.postpartum.net National Maternal Mental Health Hotline (U.S.) 1-833-TLC-MAMA (1-833-852-6262)https://mchb.hrsa.gov

    1h 48m

  7. 24/12/2025

    Episode 15: The Axeman of New Orleans

    CW: Discussion of historical violence and murder (without graphic detail), fear and moral panic, and the impact of violence on communities. It also references religious and spiritual beliefs and historical racial tension. Listener discretion is advised. In the early hours of New Orleans’ Jazz Age, a killer stalked the city with no clear motive, no consistent victims, and no face anyone could agree on. Known only as the Axeman, he terrorized immigrant neighborhoods between 1918 and 1919, slipping into homes, attacking families with their own tools, and disappearing back into the night. But this story is about more than an unsolved true crime case. In this episode, we dig into the cultural and spiritual landscape of New Orleans at the time. Catholicism and voodoo existed side by side. Spiritual Churches were on the rise. Racial tension, moral panic, and fear of social change were everywhere. At the same time, jazz was exploding onto the scene, celebrated by some and blamed by others for everything that felt out of control. We take a closer look at the infamous letter attributed to the Axeman, where he claimed allegiance to a demon and warned that anyone not playing jazz would be spared. Whether the letter was real or not, it worked. The city listened. Fear shaped behavior. Was the Axeman a single killer, a copycat, or something larger that the city created during a moment of collective anxiety? And why did jazz, joyful and defiant, become tangled up in violence and blame? This episode isn’t about glorifying a killer. It’s about how belief, fear, and cultural upheaval can turn uncertainty into something monstrous, and how sometimes the story we tell becomes more powerful than the truth itself. Sources: “Roman Catholic Archdiocese of New Orleans.” Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roman_Catholic_Archdiocese_of_New_Orleans. Accessed December 23, 2025. “Spiritual Church Movement.” Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spiritual_Church_Movement. Accessed December 23, 2025. “Louisiana Voodoo.” Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Louisiana_Voodoo. Accessed December 23, 2025. “Religion in New Orleans.” Encyclopedia of Louisiana (KnowLA). https://64parishes.org/entry/religion-in-new-orleans. Accessed December 23, 2025. “Axeman of New Orleans.” Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Axeman_of_New_Orleans. Accessed December 23, 2025. Davis, Miriam C. Axeman of New Orleans: The True Story. Chicago Review Press, 2017. “The Axeman’s Jazz: The Axeman of New Orleans.” Historic Mysteries. https://www.historicmysteries.com. Accessed December 23, 2025. “The Axeman of New Orleans.” FBI Records: The Vault. Archival references and contemporary reporting context. Accessed December 23, 2025. O’Neill, Lex. “Axeman: The Jazz-Loving Killer.” Crime Capsule, Arcadia Publishing, 2019. “Axeman of New Orleans Letter (March 1919).” Wikipedia. Full text of letter. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Axeman_of_New_Orleans#Letter. Accessed December 23, 2025. “Who Was the Axeman of New Orleans?” Smithsonian Magazine. Accessed December 23, 2025. “Franz Joseph I of Austria.” Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Franz_Joseph_I_of_Austria. Accessed December 23, 2025. “Jazz Age.” Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jazz_Age. Accessed December 23, 2025. “Moral Panic and Jazz Music.” Smithsonian Jazz / National Museum of American History. https://americanhistory.si.edu/smithsonian-jazz. Accessed December 23, 2025. Peretti, Burton W. The Creation of Jazz: Music, Race, and Culture in Urban America. University of Illinois Press, 1992. Ward, Geoffrey C., and Ken Burns. Jazz: A History of America’s Music. Alfred A. Knopf, 2000. Kenney, William Howland. Chicago Jazz: A Cultural History, 1904–1930. Oxford University Press, 1993. “Billy Sunday.” Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Billy_Sunday. Accessed December 23, 2025. “Ladies’ Home Journal Jazz Article (1921).” Library of Congress Archives. Accessed December 23, 2025.

    1h 25m

  8. 17/12/2025

    Episode 14 Part I: Harriette + Harry T. Moore

    CW: This episode discusses racism, white-supremacist violence, and systemic oppression, including the assassination of civil-rights organizers . There are no graphic descriptions, but the themes may be heavy, especially for Black listeners, Indigenous listeners, and other people of color who live with the ongoing impacts of this history. Listener discretion is encouraged. In this first episode of a two-part series, Jeri tells the story of Harry and Harriette Moore... two educators and early civil-rights organizers whose shared commitment to justice helped shape voting rights and equality in Florida and beyond. Through their work with the NAACP, teacher pay equity lawsuits, and voter registration efforts, the Moores believed freedom was built through community, education, and care. Their marriage was a partnership rooted in love and shared purpose, and their home became a consistent center of resistance. On Christmas night in 1951, they were targets of white-supremacist violence. This episode centers on who they were before their murder and the impact of their life's work. Resources Reading recommendations: My Grandmother's Hands, Before His Time: The Untold Story of Harry T. Moore — Ben GreenEqual Justice Initiative (EJI)- https://eji.orgMovement for Black Lives (M4BL)- https://m4bl.orgFacing History & Ourselves - https://www.facinghistory.orgDocuseries: Watch Part I Here , Watch Part II Here

    1h 3m
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About

Hosted by two close friends, one a therapist raised Southern Baptist, now agnostic; the other a spiritually curious ex-Catholic who believes in ghosts and is terrified of demons... we dive into dark tales and crimes committed in the name of God (or the devil). Through ethical retellings of possessions, prophecies, cults, and beliefs, we investigate spirituality, belief systems, and the ambiguous psychological spaces in between.

Information

  • Creator
    Altar Ego
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    24
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Altar Ego
  • Show Website
    Altar Ego