Who R U? Curious Stories of Family Lore

Wietze and Sam

Join us as we dissect our family trees to find the craziest, spookiest, and downright inspirational stories that our ancestors experienced firsthand! We talk ghosts, lore, family legends, and the importance of tradition. If you like mystery, we are the Podcast for you! Two best friends who met in Art school take on their lineage one tree branch at a time.

  1. 3d ago

    Episode 41: Kodak's "Nuclear Moment"

    SORRY FOR THE AUDIO, WIETZE LOST HER MIC ADAPTER :,) Rochester, NY has been the home of photography since George Eastman perfected the photographic process in the flower city. Eastman’s success in analog photography created a booming business that turned into an empire. This empire rose and became the economical foundation to the city, and with that came great power. A purchase of a camera meant the purchase of film, which meant potential print orders and more film . With a business model goldmine that created repeat costumers, Kodak’s power extended far beyond the world of capturing moments. Behind closed doors, Kodak was harboring a massive secret, one that still leaves locals shaking in their docs. The above ground factories and buildings are only a small portion of what at one time existed in Kodak park. Hidden deep beneath the buildings lived Kodak’s darkest and most dangerous secret, one that had the potential to obliterate an entire community.  Note: All information presented in this episode is sourced material as noted below. All opinions of the hosts do not reflect those at Kodak, nor do the hosts have any affiliation with Kodak. Sources: https://www.democratandchronicle.com/story/local/2016/08/18/did-you-know-kodak-park-had-nuclear-reactor/88944080/?gnt-cfr=1&gca-cat=p&gca-uir=false&gca-epti=z1118xxe1118xxv000019&gca-ft=64&gca-ds=sophi Kodak's CFX Final Survey Plan: https://www.nrc.gov/docs/ML0816/ML081690376.pdf https://grist.org/accountability/buoyed-by-a-retro-revival-kodaks-dark-environmental-past-is-coming-to-light/ Tails of Militant Chemistry by Alice Lovejoy: https://newbooksnetwork.com/tales-of-militant-chemistry Maps of Kodak Park: https://mcnygenealogy.com/maps/kodak-1.htm https://www.orau.org/health-physics-museum/collection/nuclear-weapons/trinity/kodak-film.html https://www.popularmechanics.com/science/energy/a21382/how-kodak-accidentally-discovered-radioactive-fallout/ https://www.democratandchronicle.com/story/news/2015/07/18/kodak-implosion/30339741/?gnt-cfr=1&gca-cat=p&gca-uir=true&gca-epti=z116119e1193xxv116119d--68--b--68--&gca-ft=177&gca-ds=sophi

  2. 6d ago ·  Bonus

    Bonus! Family Lorror Stories Vol 2

    Hey Fam! We are going Camping! These stories today were submitted by YOU and involve going camping out in the good old wilderness. We even have a surprise special guest right at the beginning that neither of us expected but validated my belief in synchronicities! (Shoutout to you, JAIME! ) Today is all about floating heads, daredevils, crying ghosts, and a laser gun with no business being in the forest. Welcome to Family Lorror Stories Volume 2! Sources: https://www.ausablechasm.com/stories-and-legends https://www.halfwayanywhere.com/trails/pacific-crest-trail/pct-horror-stories-2024/ https://www.mammothres.com/blog/best-mammoth/spooky-story-bodie-ghost-town Alien Sighting around Mammoth: https://www.iheart.com/content/2021-12-13-man-living-atop-california-volcano-shares-amazing-ufo-story/

  3. Jul 13

    Episode 40: Transmutation Of Pain & A "Haunted" Painting

    YAY, WE HAVE MADE IT TO EPISODE 40!!!!! :) :) :) Thank you to everyone who listens, new and old. We are continuously humbled by your support. As human beings, we are both blessed and cursed to be able to experience all consuming emotions; from pure love and joy, to the immense sadness we feel when we lose someone we love.  Our emotions are powerful. Have you ever felt the piercing stare of a foe from across the room? What about the pulse of electric current you feel when you’re in the midst of a whirlwind romance? Emotions are energy, and energy is power.  Where does our grief go when we finally decide to release it? The transmutation of pain has been a common motif across all art forms, as art has been used as the medium of healing.  But what if all these emotions released by the artist live on in the piece, trapped until they can be released into their next form? Today we talk about loss, coping as artists, and a painting that may still hold the suffering of the artist who created it. Do you believe in haunted paintings? Welcome to Who R U? Curious Stories Of Family Lore Trigger Warnings: Death, intubation, suicide, addiction Sources: https://theartedge.faso.com/blog/66784/the-anguished-man-a-paranormal-painting https://www.reddit.com/r/creepy/comments/9k4fuy/the_anguished_man/

  4. Jul 7

    Episode 39: Tragedies In The Forest

    Words can not express the whirlwind of emotions I felt at this festival. Between the overwhelming amount of people way over capacity, to the lack of PLUR from the festival staff and fellow ravers, to ending the weekend with a horrible tragedy. The Forest provided me the journey I needed for my own personal self reflection and growth. For that and the memories I made with true friends I am forever grateful. This experience truly makes me appreciate smaller festivals that are properly ran with the consideration of the public’s security coming first before the money in their pockets. The Forest provides and the Forest taketh away. Sad to say it was my first and last. My heart goes out to all those affected by the negative vibes. This week sam takes us through her experience at Electric Forest and the horrific tragedy that occurred on Sunday. Remember, if you're going to party, do so responsibly and with people you trust. Never mix your drugs, and always have a safe plan for getting home. When things go wrong, get help with no questions asked. If you're pregnant, always consult your doctor before going to any event with loud music and large crowds. Your safety is priority, and our hearts go out to those who lost their lives surrounding this years and years past EF. In memory of: Brian Alan Brockette, aged 20 Jerard R. Jackson, aged 28 Anna Melicher, aged 27 Little Baby, age unknown. TRIGGER WARNINGS: OD, S*ICIDE, INFANT/NEONATE FATALITY, DRUG USE, MEDICAL EMERGENCIES ****DISCLAIMER: We are in no way placing blame upon Electric Forest for the deaths and tragedies discussed in this episode. Every statement made was based off of published information as sourced below. Opinions stated are that of the hosts and are opinions only. We are in no way affiliated with EF and our views and choices do not reflect those of the festival. ****** Sources: https://www.nytimes.com/2026/06/29/us/electric-forest-festival-baby-dead.html?smid=fb-nytimes&smtyp=cur https://www.freep.com/story/news/local/michigan/2026/06/30/illinois-jerard-jackson-death-electric-forest-police-body-suicide/90753808007/ https://www.wzzm13.com/article/news/local/police-say-man-found-dead-near-electric-forest-festival-grounds-tried-to-report-crime-that-likely-didnt-happen/69-0541c382-f1cb-4cc5-a75f-71454eadfebc https://recovery.com/resources/electric-forest-festival-death-a-result-of-molly/

  5. Jun 29

    Episode 38: Electric Forest/ The Horrors of Woodstock 99

    Hey Fam! This week Sam is off to Electric Forest! Before she left, we recorded this episode where she shared some of the history of that festival and her plans for her trip. First, Sam delves into the history of Electric Forest and it's evolution over the years. She talks about the importance of community, safety, and the transformative powers of music festivals. On the flip side, Wietze takes us down a dark road to Woodstock 99, a festival full of violence, assault, and absolutely horrific conditions. Trigger warning: the second half of this episode will contain mentions of SA, so it's totally understandable if this episode isn't for you. When all is said and done, go into every situation with an awareness of where you are, who you are with, and where the exits are. If you see something, say something, and always do your research before every festival. Sources: https://www.ebsco.com/research-starters/history/woodstock-1999-ends-violence#full-article "Trainwreck" On Netflix https://www.reddit.com/r/LetsTalkMusic/comments/gbz1bj/woodstock_99_was_it_as_bad_as_people_say/ https://thatdrop.com/awakening-the-story-of-how-electric-forest-came-to-be/ https://www.electricforest.com/a-look-back/ https://www.edmsauce.com/what-is-electric-forest-festival/ If you are a victim of sexual assault, you are not alone. RAINN is a national hotline with services to help. Everything is completely confidential: https://rainn.org/help-and-healing/hotline/

  6. Jun 15

    Episode 37: Birthdays, Funerals, and Vanished Twins

    Hey, Fam! This episode is dedicated to the wonderful, amazing Liz whose birthday we recently celebrated and who inspired this topic for today's episode. Happy Birthday, Liz! No matter where you are in the world, you will find that the celebration of birthdays can be found in various forms, connecting us all to the ancient act of honoring another year. From the ancient Egyptians celebrating the births of their gods, to the German kinderfest that inspired modern day American celebrations, birthdays represent making it through another year alive. For some of us it can be a joyous time, filled with friends and family who come together to share in celebration. But for others, birthdays can be a reminder of something lost, someone gone who cannot be replaced. for twinless twins, birthdays represent something more: the life that should’ve been. This week we are going to talk about the origins of birthdays and then introduce “The Vanished Twin Theory” and how that connects to one of our hosts.  Today we are a little all over the place, with the central theme being the celebrations of birthdays throughout time and cultures. We also go on tangents about funerals, religion, and how everything steals from paganism (not really but, kinda). If you have interesting birthday traditions, send them our way to add to the "Family Album", aka our future listener stories episode! If you are a vanished twin and you'd like to share your story, please reach out to us! Email: wrupodcast@gmail.com TikTok: @whorupodcast Instagram:@whorupodcast Youtube: Who R U Podcast Sources: https://www.farmersalmanac.com/history-birthdays https://innovation.umn.edu/birthdays-without-pressure/related-research https://www.theatlantic.com/family/archive/2021/11/history-birthday-celebrations/620585/ https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK563220/ (requires subscription)

  7. Jun 8

    Episode 36: Real Life Mr. Hyde? Metheny The Cannibal

    Boxing Cat Video by Thomas Edison is linked at the bottom of the show notes *** Can you imagine a world before the moving image? A time where capturing reality in the form of a photograph was brand new, and the world was on fire with invention. Humans were using their critical thinking brains to stretch the bounds of science in the name of art.  Film was born through scientific curiosity about a horse, and evolved throughout time into the world of film we know today.  With the birth of the film festival came the birth of genre, and this week we are going to talk about the first horror film ever screened at a festival and how that changed the course of history, both imagined and real. How did fictional horror capture the real dangers lurking around us? We end this week with a new segment, “Serial Time With Sam” where we explore yet another monster who lurked among us freely for too long and encapsulates the essence of the horror genre : horror mimics the true darkness inside us all”  Victims of Joe Metheny: Cathy Ann Magaziner, age 23 Kimberly Lynn Spicer, age 23 Randall Brewer, age unknown Randy Piker, age unknown Rita Kemper, Survived, age 37 at the time of the attack Sources About Metheny: https://caselaw.findlaw.com/court/md-court-of-appeals/1035199.html https://allthatsinteresting.com/joe-metheny https://www.wbaltv.com/article/convicted-serial-killer-found-dead-in-cell/11647056 The Ultimate Serial Killer Trivia Book:https://bookshop.org/p/books/the-ultimate-serial-killer-trivia-book-a-collection-of-fascinating-facts-and-disturbing-details-about-infamous-serial-killers-and-their-horrific-crime/b19e2aae4b3cb285 Buying from the above link supports small business bookstores! (not sponsored, either, we just love books!) Sources for Film Fest History: Boxing Cat Video By Thomas Edison: https://youtu.be/k52pLvVmmkU?si=PvliHleLZkiOw3NY Watch the Original 1932 Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YbpQQuOU68w https://www.labiennale.org/en/history-venice-film-festival https://mondomovies.wordpress.com/2025/08/06/the-first-venice-film-festival-opened-6th-august-1932/ https://variety.com/2018/film/spotlight/venice-celebrates-its-75th-edition-with-a-look-back-at-its-history-1202916078/

  8. May 31

    Episode 35: Sam's Car Accident and The Most Haunted Road in New York State.

    Hey, Fam! This week Sam shares her story of her first ever car accident, spooky time loop theories, ghost protectors, and the most haunted road in New York. This week is a mashup of conversation, storytelling, and remembering those we love. Remember, always drive safe, and if you're ever in New York State, take a drive down Whiskey Hollow Road, but not after dark...it's ILLEGAL to drive down it at night. Find out why tonight on Who R U? Curious Stories of Family Lore. Sources: Sam's personal Encounter https://www.reddit.com/r/Paranormal/comments/11q4pr1/something_possessed_me_on_whisky_hollow_road/ https://www.newyorkhauntedhouses.com/real-haunts/roads.aspx https://www.facebook.com/groups/238622469188761/posts/458682987182707/

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About

Join us as we dissect our family trees to find the craziest, spookiest, and downright inspirational stories that our ancestors experienced firsthand! We talk ghosts, lore, family legends, and the importance of tradition. If you like mystery, we are the Podcast for you! Two best friends who met in Art school take on their lineage one tree branch at a time.

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