Ghostly Talk Podcast Ghostly Talk Podcast

In 2016, we resurrected Ghostly Talk from a 2009 hiatus and managed to record 200 episodes of paranormal and off-beat strangeness. After seven years, the original show host, Scott L., has decided to retire from the mic and explore new interests.

But don't worry, you haven't heard the last of Ghostly Talk because the show is not retiring. Current co-host Amber will stay on as the ship's captain and chart a new direction for the show. If there are aspects of our show you loved and don't want to see change, please drop us an old-fashioned email and share your thoughts! Amber's brain goes 100 different ways at once so most likely there will be some variation in the show's content. Interviews, casual hangs, perhaps some scripted tales, or solo storytelling episodes. Who knows! So stay subscribed and stay tuned! We value all our listeners so much and appreciate every stream and download. As always, all of our shows since 2016 are available to stream and the older episodes are all downloadable from our website archives.

It's that time of the year when many of our workplaces and homes are filled with delicious treats and cookies for the rest of the month. Author and researcher Linda Raedisch explores the darker (and sometimes magical) side of Christmas baking in her latest book, 'The Secret History of Christmas Baking: Recipes and Stories from Tomb Offerings to Gingerbread Boys.' We discuss a bunch of fascinating history behind some of our favorite traditional treats, particularly from Europe. Did you know ground-up mummy corpses were used as medicine? Or that Gingerbread cookies could have magical abilities? Linda's books can be found anywhere books are sold. Give Linda a follow on Instagram!

Steele Alexandra Douris, author and Victorianist, specializing in Victorian Spiritualism, crime fiction, and the gothic novel joins us for a fascinating look into this era. How many people view the paranormal today stems from the Spiritualist movement of the 19th century. Seances, mediums, and paranormal investigation were all born during this time. Steele's new book, "Spirits, Seers & Seances: Victorian Spiritualism, Magic & the Supernatural" is the perfect introduction to this time. Available wherever books are sold! Steele is also a Ph.D. candidate in the English department at Stanford University, where she has taught courses on 19th-century spiritualism and ghost stories. She holds an MA in English from Stanford University and a BA in anthropology from the University of Texas at Austin.

With us in-studio on this episode is the legendary Ed Terebus to discuss the entertainment of fear and his record-breaking haunted attraction Erebus.

Erebus stands as a formidable four-story haunted attraction nestled in Pontiac, Michigan, and is open during the Halloween season. From 2005 to 2009, it held the Guinness World Record for being the largest walk-through haunted attraction. Its chilling origins trace back to the year 2000 when it breathed new life into an abandoned four-story parking garage, dormant for nearly half a century. Prior to Erebus's arrival, this very structure languished as an indoor junkyard. The visionaries behind this macabre masterpiece are none other than Edward and Jim Terebus, distinguished for their prior ventures into the realm of haunted attractions around the Detroit area. Before Erebus, their expertise was demonstrated through portable haunts constructed within trailers. Complementing Erebus, they also helm the publication Fear Finder—a seasonal beacon that serves as a central nexus for Michigan's haunted houses, facilitating effortless discovery for the intrigued and the brave-hearted alike.

The idea of "death magic" is majorly misunderstood and you probably have no idea how often you are actually doing little acts of necromancy in your own life. We have a deep conversation with author Mortellus about what the practice of necromany is really all about and how they came to be where they are today.  Their new book, "The Bones Fall in a Spiral: An Introduction to Necromancy and the Magic of Death" will be available in October 2023!

Bio:
Mortellus is a lineaged Third Degree Gardnerian High Priestex of the Long Island Line. Presently busy at work on their third book, with the second, "The Bones Fall in a Spiral: A Necromantic Primer" completed and arriving soon. In addition to their role as High Priestex, Mortellus is a Mortician, and holds degrees in Design, Education, Fine Arts, and Mortuary Sciences. Their areas of expertise include necromancy, necrobotany, mediumship, and the funerary rites of minority faith groups. Currently residing in Western North Carolina on three acres that doubles as the Covenstead for the Coven of Leaves with their spouse, adult child, AMAB/AFAB twins, and dog; generally wishing there was more time in the day for hiding in the studio and playing with clay.

Our friends Sara and Kevin join us in the studio to discuss the recent UFO whistleblower David Grush and we have fun speculating on UFO disclosure and the idea of life beyond our planet.

Things to watch and read from our discussion:

-INTELLIGENCE OFFICIALS SAY U.S. HAS RETRIEVED CRAFT OF NON-HUMAN ORIGIN – The Debrief.org article that introduced Grush’s claims.

-Moment of Contact – Documentary about the Brazil UFO and body retrieval

-Ariel Phenomena – Documentary about the Ariel school UFO sighting

-Passport to Magonia: On UFOs, Folklore, and Parallel Worlds by Jacques Vallée