What makes an object feel haunted? Why do some places carry a sense of unease, while others become the stuff of legend? In this episode, Queenie explores the enduring fascination with haunted items, demonic possession, and cursed locations—not just through folklore and history, but through the lens of psychology, culture, and belief. Whether you're a skeptic, a believer, or somewhere in between, this episode examines why these stories persist, and what they reveal about fear, memory, and the human need to make sense of the unknown.

You don’t have to believe in ghosts to be haunted by the stories we tell.

SOURCES AND REFERENCES:

- Zak Bagans & Joe Knetter, 'Ghost-Hunting For Dummies' (2020) 

- The Warren's Occult Museum official website and related interviews 

- Smithsonian Magazine, 'The True Story of the Hope Diamond' 

- National Geographic, 'Aokigahara: Japan's Haunted Forest' 

- Travel Channel & Ghost Adventures coverage on the Dybbuk Box 

- Official Stanley Hotel history and guest reports 

- The Myrtles Plantation official site and historical legends 

- British Heritage Travel, 'The Ghosts of the Tower of London' 

- University of Florida, 'Haunted Robert the Doll and Folklore Persistence'

 - Skeptoid Podcast episodes on haunted objects and confirmation bias 

- Psychology Today, 'Why People Believe in Ghosts and the Paranormal' 

- JSTOR Daily, 'The Cultural History of Ghost Stories' 

- Pew Research Center: 'The Rise of the Spiritual But Not Religious' 

- History Channel and BBC documentaries on exorcisms and demonology 

- Folklore Society archives on dybbuks, yurei, and jinn 

- American Psychological Association, 'Fear and the Brain'

From language and food to fashion and faith, Gen Z is looking backward to move forward—reconnecting with ancestral traditions in a time when cultural identity feels both more personal and more global than ever. In this episode, Queenie explores why so many young people are reviving lost practices, embracing their heritage, and questioning what was once left behind. Through history, social trends, and personal reflection, we examine how culture isn’t just inherited—it’s chosen, adapted, and made new again.

Sometimes the future looks a lot like the past—just with better lighting.

• Pew Research Center – Reports on Millennials, Gen Z, and identity formation

• JSTOR Daily – 'Cultural Reclamation and Intergenerational Memory'

• Psychology Today – Articles on generational trauma and identity development

• Smithsonian Magazine – Features on Americanization and the postwar immigrant experience

• The Atlantic – 'Why Millennials Are Embracing Ancestral Heritage'

• NPR – Interviews and essays on reclaiming indigenous languages and practices

• The New York Times – Articles on global fashion trends and slow fashion revival

• TikTok & Instagram – Observational sources: language challenges, cultural storytelling, fashion

• Personal family history (Zuza’s immigration story)

• Academic papers on assimilation, acculturation, and post-WWII American identity

• Ethnographic interviews and videos from YouTube and creator content on cultural identity

• Harvard Divinity School – Studies on modern spirituality and ancestral practice resurgence

• TED Talks & Podcast segments on identity, heritage, and cultural storytelling

Over the last hundred years, traditional styles of dress across the globe have steadily given way to more Western-inspired fashion. In this episode, we explore the complex reasons behind that shift—colonial history, economic development, media influence, and the pursuit of opportunity. From tailored suits to school uniforms, clothing has often served as both a symbol of belonging and a tool for navigating changing worlds. Join Queenie as we trace how fashion became globalized, why traditional garments faded from everyday life, and what today’s cultural revival movements are trying to bring back.

- Valerie Steele, 'The Corset: A Cultural History' (Yale University Press, 2001) 

- Susan B. Kaiser, 'Fashion and Cultural Studies' (Berg, 2012) 

- '100 Years of Fashion' video series by Mode (YouTube) 

- Smithsonian Magazine, 'A Visual History of Fashion's Influence on Culture' 

- BBC Culture, 'How Hollywood Conquered the World' 

- The Met Museum: Articles and blogs on historical fashion and textile traditions 

- 'The Psychology of Fashion' by Carolyn Mair (Routledge, 2018) 

- Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT) Digital Archives and Publications 

- Articles on fast fashion and globalization from Business of Fashion (BoF) and Vox 

- National Geographic: 'How Traditional Dress Reflects Local Culture' 

- Historical reference on sumptuary laws: 'Sumptuary Law' entry from Encyclopedia Britannica 

- Harvard Business Review, 'Why Gen Z Is Driving Cultural Change in Fashion' 

- The Guardian, 'Why Are Designer Clothes So Impractical?' (April 2023)

In this debut episode of Context is Everything, we dive deep into the world Jesus walked into—and why so many people didn’t recognize Him as the Messiah they’d been waiting for. From dusty Galilean streets to the political tensions of ancient Jerusalem, we unpack the religious factions, cultural expectations, and prophetic hopes that shaped first-century Jewish life.
Why didn’t Jesus fit the mold? What kind of deliverance were people expecting? And what happens when the Savior you get looks nothing like the one you imagined?

Whether you're a lifelong believer or just history-curious, this episode will challenge what you think you know and reveal just how much the why matters.

Sources and References:

Josephus – *The Jewish War* and *Antiquities of the Jews*. Primary sources for Jewish life, sects, and Roman rule.

James H. Charlesworth – *Jesus and Archaeology*. Archaeological context for Galilee and early Jesus movement.

Sean Freyne – *Galilee from Alexander the Great to Hadrian, 323 BCE to 135 CE*. Political and social history of Galilee.

Richard A. Horsley – *Archaeology, History, and Society in Galilee*. Focused on economics, resistance, and daily life in Galilee.

The Bible Project - 'Second Temple Period'. Accessible visual explainer of the intertestimental period.

BYU Religious Studies Center - 'Why Did So Many Jews Reject Jesus As the Messiah' by Jeffery R. Chadwick. LDS perspective on cultural expectation of the Messiah.

My Jewish Learning - 'The Messiah in Jewish Tradition'. Non-Christian Jewish view on messianic theology.

Book of Mormon Central - KnoWhys and articles exploring messianic prophecy and Second Temple Judaism.

The Interpreter Foundation - Contextual LDS analysis of ancient scripture and Jesus's ministry.

The Life and Teachings of Jesus Christ (Deseret Book, 3-volume series). A detailed look into Jesus's mission and Jewish Culture from an LDS standpoint.

*The Chosen* - Television series portraying Jesus's ministry with historical and cultural depth (Angel Studios).

Come Follow Me Insights - BYUtv and YouTube series featuring Tyler Griffin and Taylor Halverson. LDS gospel study with historical context.

Museum of the Bible & Israel Antiquities Authority - Exhibits and reconstructions of 1st-century Jewish life and locations such as Capernaum.

Amy-Jil Levine - *The Misunderstood Jew*. Jewish perspective on Jesus and New Testament Interpretation.

Reza Aslan - *Zealot: The Life and Times of Jesus of Nazareth*. A bold, modern retelling of Jesus in the political landscape of Roman Judea (read critically).