The Eclectic

Hope
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  • TRUE CRIME

Step into the shadows with The Eclectic, a podcast where folklore, true crime, the paranormal, and bloody history converge. From ghostly legends and UFO encounters to the darkest deeds of history’s most infamous figures, each episode pulls back the curtain on the mysteries that haunt us. With a tone that’s chilling yet captivating, The Eclectic is for those who crave stories that linger long after the episode ends.

Episodes

  1. 5D AGO · BONUS

    Krampus: The Devil Who Walks At Christmas

    Send us a text Krampus: The Devil Who Walks At Christmas Long before Christmas became a season of warmth, lights, and goodwill, something darker stalked the winter nights. In this episode of The Eclectic, we delve into the chilling folklore of Krampus — the horned figure said to punish the wicked while Saint Nicholas rewarded the good. Rooted in Alpine tradition and pagan mythology, Krampus embodies fear, morality, and the uneasy balance between reward and punishment. We explore Krampus’s origins, his evolution through European folklore, the rise of Krampusnacht, and how this terrifying figure survived religious suppression to become a modern cultural icon. From ancient winter rituals to masked processions and devilish imagery, this episode asks why societies have always needed monsters — especially at Christmas. Because sometimes, the most unsettling traditions are the ones meant to keep us in line. 🎧 Listen now on Acast, Spotify & Apple Podcasts 📌 Follow @theeclecticpodcast for more folklore, true crime, and dark history All sound effects used are from pixabay Krampus - Wikipedia The Origin of Krampus, Europe's Evil Twist on Santa | Smithsonian Meet Krampus, the Christmas Devil Who Punishes Naughty Children | HISTORY Christmas Traditions: Krampus – The German Christmas Devil

    13 min

  2. DEC 17

    The Women of Whitechapel: Elizabeth Stride

    Send us a text Elizabeth Stride: The Interrupted Killing Elizabeth Stride’s murder on 30 September 1888 stands apart from the other canonical victims of Jack the Ripper. Unlike the killings that came before and after, Stride’s body bore none of the extensive mutilations that had come to define the terror stalking Whitechapel. In this episode of The Eclectic, we examine why. Was Elizabeth Stride truly a Ripper victim — or was her killer interrupted before he could complete his ritual? We walk through the events of the infamous “Double Event” night, reconstructing Stride’s final movements through Berner Street, the disputed witness sightings, and the political and social tensions surrounding the International Working Men’s Educational Club. From conflicting testimony and medical evidence to the uneasy atmosphere of East End radicalism, this episode explores how Elizabeth Stride’s case complicates everything we think we know about the Ripper’s pattern. Because sometimes, what didn’t happen tells the most disturbing story of all. 🎧 Listen now on Spotify, and Apple Podcasts — search “The Eclectic Podcast.” 📌 Follow on Instagram & TikTok: @theeclecticpodcast Princess Alice disaster: The Thames' 650 forgotten dead - BBC News Elizabeth Stride - Wikipedia Elizabeth Stride • Jack the Ripper's Berner Street Victim Elizabeth Stride the Ripper's Third Victim Torslanda Church - Wikipedia Microsoft Word - Paradox2008.doc The-funerals-of-the-victims-of-Jack-the-Ripper-PART-1-December-2018.pdf Casebook: Jack the Ripper - Elizabeth Stride

    26 min

  3. DEC 10

    The Women of Whitechapel: Annie Chapman

    Send us a text Annie Chapman’s murder on 8 September 1888 didn’t just deepen the terror gripping Whitechapel — it changed the investigation forever. Brutal, swift, and unnervingly precise, her killing marked a shift in the pattern of violence and gave police their first real glimpse into the escalating cruelty of the killer who would become known as Jack the Ripper. In this episode of The Eclectic, we follow Annie’s final hours, explore the cramped courtyards and lodging houses of Spitalfields, and break down the evidence left behind in Hanbury Street. We look at who Annie was beyond the headlines: her struggles, her relationships, and the socio-political world that shaped her life and her death. From eyewitness contradictions to the medical testimony that shocked Victorian London, we examine how Annie Chapman’s case reshaped public panic, press frenzy, and the police strategy moving forward. Because to understand the Ripper’s shadow, we must first understand the woman caught within it. References & Sources Used in Research(All sources are historical and publicly accessible.) 🔍 Primary Historical Sources The Times Digital Archive (1888) – Reports on Annie Chapman’s murder and the Ripper investigation.The Illustrated Police News (1888) – Contemporary newspaper accounts and illustrations.Metropolitan Police Files – Statements from officers including Inspector Abberline and Dr. George Bagster Phillips.Coroner Wynne Baxter’s Inquest Proceedings (1888) – Testimony of witnesses and medical examiners.🔍 Secondary Sources Begg, Paul — Jack the Ripper: The FactsSugden, Philip — The Complete History of Jack the RipperEvans, Stewart P. & Rumbelow, Donald — Jack the Ripper: Scotland Yard InvestigatesMarriott, Trevor — Jack the Ripper: The 21st Century Investigation🔍 Academic & Contextual Materials Walkowitz, Judith — City of Dreadful Delight: Narratives of Sexual Danger in Late-Victorian LondonWhitechapel Society Articles & Historical BriefingsThe National Archives (UK) — Victorian policing and social context

    18 min

  4. DEC 3

    The Women of Whitechapel: : Lives Before The Ripper: Mary Ann Nichols: The Woman the World Forgot

    Send us a text Before Jack the Ripper became a legend, Mary Ann “Polly” Nichols was a mother, a daughter, a wife, and a woman fighting to survive the brutal realities of Victorian London. In this deeply human opening to our Whitechapel series, we walk with her through workhouses, lodging houses, and the shadowed streets of 1888 — not to sensationalise her death, but to reclaim her life.  This episode honours her story with empathy, truth, and the recognition she was denied for more than a century. PRIMARY SOURCES (Historical Records & Documents) 1. Coroner Wynne Edwin Baxter’s Inquest Report (1888) Proceedings from the official inquest into the death of Mary Ann NicholsIncludes witness statements from Charles Cross, Robert Paul, Inspector Spratling, and othersAccessible via:The National ArchivesThe British Newspaper Archivecasebook.org (transcriptions)2. Metropolitan Police Files (MEPO Series) Original police reports about the Buck’s Row murderNotes from Inspector Abberline and Superintendent ArnoldAvailable at The National Archives (Kew), MEPO 3 and MEPO 63. 1881 Census & Parish Records Confirm addresses, employment, and the Nichols family compositionAccessed via:AncestryFindMyPast4. Lambeth & Mile End Workhouse Admission/Discharge Books Records of Mary Ann Nichols’ stays in various workhousesAvailable via London Metropolitan Archives:  https://www.cityoflondon.gov.uk/things-to-do/archives-and-city-history/london-metropolitan-archivesSECONDARY SOURCES (Books & Research)“The Complete Jack the Ripper” — Donald Rumbelow A foundational text on the murders, with extensive research on the victims and the social conditions of Whitechapel. “The Five: The Untold Lives of the Women Killed by Jack the Ripper” — Hallie Rubenhold A groundbreaking, empathetic work focusing on the victims’ lives—not the killer.  Heavily informs the emotional framing and social context of this script. “Jack the Ripper: The Facts” — Paul Begg Provides detailed analysis of the police investigation, timelines, and victim biographies. “Jack the Ripper and the London Press” — L. Perry Curtis Jr. Examines Victorian newspaper sensationalism and the framing of the murders. “Life and Labour of the People in London” — Charles Booth (1889–1903) Maps and commentary on poverty in Whitechapel; used for socio-economic context. “The Hooligan Nights” — Clarence Rook (1899) A period account of life among the poorest Londoners. DIGITAL RESOURCES / WEBSITES (Reputable & Widely Cited)1. Casebook: Jack the Ripper https://www.casebook.org 2. The Whitechapel Society https://www.whitechapelsociety.com 3. The National Archives (UK) https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk 4. British Newspaper Archive https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk 5. Victorian London.org http://www.victorianlondon.org 6. Charles Booth’s Poverty Maps https://booth.lse.ac.uk 7. The Workhouse: The Story of an Institution https://www.workhouses.org.uk

    17 min

  5. NOV 19

    The Lights In Rendlesham Forest

    Send us a text The forest remembers. On the cold nights of December 1980, lights descended into Rendlesham Forest and changed the lives of the men stationed at RAF Woodbridge forever. What began as a routine security patrol spiralled into one of the most debated UFO incidents in British history — complete with radiation readings, military tapes, frantic witness accounts, and a memo that the world wasn’t supposed to see. In this episode of The Eclectic, we walk the forest paths in the dark, retracing the steps of Penniston, Burroughs, Cabansag and Lieutenant Colonel Charles Halt. Was it an extraterrestrial encounter? A lighthouse illusion? A Cold War hoax? Or something stranger still? Prepare for an episode of crackling tension, eerie detail, and the deep unsettling question that hangs over Rendlesham to this day:  What really came down in those trees? Primary Documents & Official Sources: Lt. Col. Charles Halt, Halt Memo (13 January 1981), released via FOIAThe Halt Audio Tape (18 minutes), available via MoD archives & Ian RidpathWitness Statements:Airman 1st Class John Burroughs Staff Sgt. Jim Penniston Airman Edward Cabansag Master Sergeant J.D. ChandlerLieutenant Fred A. Buran (Taken 2 January 1981) Newspaper & Media Coverage: BBC News interviews with Halt and Rendlesham witnesses (multiple years)BBC Suffolk — Kevin Conde “hoax claim”Omni Magazine, 1983 article quoting Colonel Ted ConradTV documentary interviews (Sci-Fi Channel, 2003)Investigative Analysis: Ian Ridpath: “The Rendlesham Forest UFO Case” “The Halt Tape Analysis” “Orford Ness Lighthouse Correlation”Dr. David Clarke, British UFO researcherMoD Files (declassified, multiple documents referencing the incident)Books & Extended Sources: Left at East Gate — Larry Warren & Peter RobbinsYou Can't Tell the People — Georgina BruniThe Rendlesham Forest UFO Mystery — Jenny RandlesUFOs: The Definitive Casebook — David ClarkeMiscellaneous: Historical Orford Ness lighthouse timing data15th-century cartographic references to Hy BrasilInterviews with forester Vince Thurkettle

    28 min

  6. NOV 5

    Fire & Faith - The Lewes Bonfire

    Send us a text Every November, the quiet town of Lewes erupts in fire, fury, and centuries-old ritual. Beneath the blazing torches and roaring processions lies a story of rebellion, religion, and remembrance — where the line between celebration and chaos burns away. Join us as we explore the strange, shadowed origins of Lewes Bonfire Night — from the Gunpowder Plot to burning effigies that still divide opinion today. Because in Lewes, the past doesn’t just haunt the streets… it ignites them. Below is a list of Sources used: Foxe, John. Acts and Monuments (“The Book of Martyrs”), 1563. English Heritage – The Lewes Martyrs. VisitLewes.com – The Seventeen Martyrs of Lewes. BBC History – The Marian Persecutions. History.com – The Gunpowder Plot. The National Archives (UK) – Guy Fawkes’ Interrogation Records. The Guardian – Lewes Bonfire: Tradition, Protest, and Fire.

    11 min

  7. NOV 4

    The Eclectic Trailer

    Send us a text Step into the shadows with The Eclectic, a podcast where folklore, true crime, the paranormal, and bloody history converge. From ghostly legends and UFO encounters to the darkest deeds of history’s most infamous figures, each episode pulls back the curtain on the mysteries that haunt us. With a tone that’s chilling yet captivating, The Eclectic is for those who crave stories that linger long after the episode ends.

    2 min
  • 7 Episodes

About

Step into the shadows with The Eclectic, a podcast where folklore, true crime, the paranormal, and bloody history converge. From ghostly legends and UFO encounters to the darkest deeds of history’s most infamous figures, each episode pulls back the curtain on the mysteries that haunt us. With a tone that’s chilling yet captivating, The Eclectic is for those who crave stories that linger long after the episode ends.

Information

  • Creator
    Hope
  • Years Active
    2K
  • Episodes
    7
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2025 The Eclectic
  • Show Website
    The Eclectic