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. 2H AGO

    John Bodkin Adams: The Doctor Who Buried His Patients

    Send us a text John Bodkin Adams: The Doctor Who Was Always There at the End Eastbourne was meant to be a place to grow old quietly.  Neat streets. Polite society. Doctors you trusted with your life. John Bodkin Adams was one of those doctors. Over decades, elderly patients under his care died suddenly — often after injections, often without witnesses, and frequently after rewriting their wills. He attended funerals. He comforted grieving families. And, time and again, he benefited. In this episode of The Eclectic, we examine the life and crimes of Dr John Bodkin Adams, a GP suspected of murdering dozens of patients while hiding behind professional respectability and social privilege. We explore the pattern of deaths, the police investigation that was quietly resisted at the highest levels, and the extraordinary trial that left more questions than answers. Was Adams a compassionate doctor easing suffering — or one of Britain’s most prolific serial killers, protected by status and silence? Because sometimes, the most dangerous figures aren’t monsters in the dark — they’re trusted men in plain sight. 🎧 Listen now on Spotify & Apple Podcasts — search “The Eclectic Podcast.” 📌 Follow on Instagram: @theeclecticpodcast  & TikTok: @theeclecticpodcast14 John Bodkin Adams - Wikipedia Randalstown Heritage Tales - Randalstown Arches Association Adams, John Bodkin | Dictionary of Irish Biography THE TRIAL OF DR. ADAMS: DRAMA IN THE COURTROOM; OLD BAILEY - The New York Times Shipman and Bodkin Adams in the dock - The Lancet Psychiatry John Bodkin Adams | Murderpedia, the encyclopedia of murderers Scandalous Eastbourne – Travel log lewes John Bodkin Adams, A Curious And Dubious Doctor - HeadStuff RECOMMENDED FURTHER READING FOR LISTENERS The Trial of John Bodkin Adams — Percy HoskinsBodkin Adams: A Doctor’s Deceit — John SurteesBBC Timewatch episode on AdamsNational Archives: DPP files on Operation Standstill

    38 min

  2. JAN 21

    Bloody Mary: A Queen Forged in Fear

    Send us a text Mary Tudor: Bloody Queen or Misunderstood Monarch? Mary Tudor is remembered by history as “Bloody Mary” — England’s first crowned queen, a devout Catholic, and a ruler synonymous with fire, persecution, and fear. But how much of that reputation is truth… and how much is the result of propaganda, politics, and prejudice? In this episode of The Eclectic, we explore the life and reign of Mary I of England, tracing her journey from a traumatised childhood shaped by Henry VIII’s religious upheaval to her violent and controversial attempt to restore Catholicism to a divided nation. We examine the Marian persecutions, the political pressures she faced, her disastrous marriage to Philip of Spain, and the brutal legacy that earned her one of history’s most infamous nicknames. Was Mary Tudor uniquely cruel — or simply a ruler shaped by faith, fear, and a Tudor world where power was always paid for in blood? This episode looks beyond the myth to uncover the woman behind the crown, and the brutal reality of religious rule in sixteenth-century England. 🎧 Listen now on Spotify & Apple Podcasts — search “The Eclectic Podcast Hope.” 📌 Follow on Instagram - @theeclecticpodcast & TikTok: @theeclecticpodcast14 Sources Used:  https://www.britannica.com/biography/Mary-I  https://www.tudorsociety.com/mary-i-turns-back-the-clock-decades/  https://tudorsdynasty.com/queen-and-mother-mary-i-the-woman-behind-the-legend/  https://englishhistory.net/tudor/queen-mary-i-description/  Mary I of England - Wikipedia Mary I: first crowned Queen of England | Hampton Court Palace | Historic Royal Palaces The Fitzwilliam Museum - Mary Tudor https://www.historyskills.com/classroom/year-8/marian-persecutions/  https://www.tutorchase.com/notes/aqa-a-level/history/15-2-4-persecution-and-opposition-under-mary-i  Mary's Lack of Political Prowess

    35 min

  3. JAN 14

    The Women of Whitechapel: Mary Jane Kelly: The Woman In The Room

    Send us a text Mary Jane Kelly: The Final Victim Mary Jane Kelly’s murder on 9 November 1888 marked the brutal end of the Jack the Ripper’s known killing spree — and remains the most horrifying crime associated with the case. Unlike the other canonical victims, Mary Jane was killed indoors, behind the closed door of her room in Miller’s Court. What was discovered there shocked even a city already numbed by violence. The scale of the mutilation, the privacy of the setting, and the unanswered questions surrounding her life and identity have made Mary Jane Kelly one of the most haunting figures in true crime history. In this episode of The Eclectic, we explore who Mary Jane Kelly may have been, her final days in Spitalfields, and the events leading up to the morning her body was discovered. We examine the crime scene, the medical testimony, and the many theories that surround her murder — including why this killing appears so different from the others. More than a conclusion, Mary Jane Kelly’s death forces us to confront the human cost of the Ripper story — and the woman whose life ended in silence behind a locked door. 🎧 Listen now on Spotify & Apple Podcasts — search “The Eclectic Hope” 📌 Follow on Instagram @theeclecticpodcast        TikTok: @theeclecticpodcast14 Research  Mary Jane Kelly - Wikipedia Mary Jane Kelly: Victim of the Ripper's Most Ghastly Murder  Casebook: Jack the Ripper - Mary Jane Kelly Mary Jane Kelly - Jack the Ripper’s Final Victim? - JTR Mary Jane Kelly: Jack the Ripper's final victim – Overview & Analysis | Crime+Investigation UK Mary Kelly - Jack the Ripper's Final Victim. Mary Jane Kelly, Jack The Ripper's Most Gruesome Murder Victim Jack the Ripper victim Mary Kelly hunted by Richard III team - BBC News Mary Jane Kelly — East End Women's Museum The Murder of Mary Kelly - 9th November 1888 The Women of Whitechapel: Mary Jane Kelly 1888 - Crimes Through Time casebook.org/ripper_media/book_reviews/non-fiction/garrywroe_full.html

    33 min

  4. JAN 7

    The Women of Whitechapel: Catherine Eddowes - The Woman In The Square

    Send us a text Step into the life of Catherine Eddowes, a woman whose resilience and spirit defied the harsh realities of Victorian London.  In this episode, we explore her journey marked by intelligence, creativity, and defiance, revealing a legacy overshadowed by the violence that ended her life. Join us as we honour her story, celebrating her strength and humanity. You can follow us on Instagram @theecelctic podcast On facebook - The Eclectic On tik-tok - @eclecticpodcast14 If you have any suggestions for future stories you would like us to cover, you can email us - theeclecticp@gmail.com You can also find a copy of the Ballad Kate wrote here - A Copy of Verses on the Awful Execution of Charles Christopher Robinson, For the Murder of his Sweetheart, Harriet Segar, of Ablow Street, Wolverhampton, August 26th. · Execution Ballads

    28 min

  5. 12/24/2025 · 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

  6. 12/17/2025

    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

  7. 12/10/2025

    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

  8. 12/03/2025

    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

  9. 11/19/2025

    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

  10. 11/05/2025

    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

  11. 11/04/2025

    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
  • 11 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
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    11
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 The Eclectic
  • Show Website
    The Eclectic