On Christmas Eve 1945, a fire destroyed the Sodder family home, leaving behind a mystery that has haunted true crime enthusiasts for decades. Five children vanished without a trace—no bodies, no bones, no answers. Was it a tragic accident? A kidnapping? Or something even darker? Strange events before and after the fire—a chilling phone call, cut telephone lines, and a cryptic photo received decades later—have fueled endless speculation.

In this episode, we dig into the baffling details, explore the most compelling theories, and uncover why this story remains one of America’s most unsettling unsolved mysteries. If you love true crime and the unexplained, this holiday episode is for you.

🎧 Start listening now and decide for yourself—what really happened to the Sodder children? If you enjoyed this episode, you might also like: Episode 167 – Unanswered Questions: Baffling Final Days of Kris Kremers & Lisanne Froon Episode 150 – Footsteps in the Attic: The Hinterkaifeck Murders

In this conclusion to the story of the Edmund Fitzgerald, we return to the icy waters of Lake Superior to explore the theories and lingering mysteries surrounding its tragic sinking. Without a distress signal or survivors, the ship’s disappearance left behind a haunting legacy of unanswered questions. Was it the crushing force of rogue waves, a structural failure, or a perilous encounter with the shallow waters of Six Fathom Shoal that brought down the mighty freighter? Guided by Gordon Lightfoot’s haunting ballad, we reflect on how his unforgettable lyrics gave voice to the lost crew and transformed the tragedy into a timeless legend. Along the way, we’ll examine eerie discoveries at the wreck site—like the massive ghostly silhouette of the ship resting on the lakebed—and unravel the details that continue to captivate. Discover how the ship’s story lives on and why it still resonates nearly 50 years later.

This episode is best enjoyed after listening to: Episode 193 – The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald “The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald” was written and performed by Gordon Lightfoot and originally released on the album Summertime Dream in 1976. Copyright © 1976 by Early Morning Music, Ltd. This podcast uses the song under the principles of fair use for educational, analytical, and commentary purposes.

Gordon Lightfoot’s haunting ballad, The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald, is more than a song—it’s a legend. Through vivid storytelling, Lightfoot immortalizes the tragic sinking of the massive freighter and its crew during a relentless November storm on Lake Superior. Nearly 50 years later, the mystery of what truly happened still lingers, while the song continues to captivate listeners with its chilling narrative and emotional depth. In this episode, we use Lightfoot’s ballad as our guide to explore the history and legacy of the most well-known wreck on the Great Lakes. If you enjoyed this episode, you might also like: Episode 164 – What Happened to the Mary Celeste? Episode 123 – Update: The Ghost Ship of Niagara Falls

"The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald" was written and performed by Gordon Lightfoot and originally released on the album Summertime Dream in 1976. Copyright © 1976 by Early Morning Music, Ltd. This podcast uses the song under the principles of fair use for educational, analytical, and commentary purposes.

This Halloween, Haunted Talks invites you inside one of the most haunted houses in America—the Whaley House in San Diego. Built on former execution grounds in 1857, the Whaley House has been the site of chilling tragedies, from the untimely deaths within the Whaley family to eerie encounters with spirits like ‘Yankee Jim,’ a condemned man whose execution was witnessed by Thomas Whaley himself.

In this special episode, we join Victor Santana, Operations & Property Manager of the Whaley House Museum Complex, as he takes us on a tour of its haunted history. Victor shares his firsthand experiences with the spirits that linger within the house, from inexplicable voices to objects moving on their own. He also takes us behind the scenes with chilling accounts of visitors’ encounters—some departing with unexplained marks, others feeling a sudden, overpowering sadness as they walk the grounds. Blow out the candle in your jack-o’-lantern, turn the lights down low, and settle in to hear stories from one of the most active hauntings in the world.

If you enjoyed this episode you might also like: Episode 190 – The Bell Witch Episode 133 – Sallie House Haunting Episode 75 – Boston Ghost Craze of 1878

Every Halloween, a familiar warning resurfaces—beware of tampered treats from strangers. But where did this chilling urban legend come from, and is there any truth behind the tales of poisoned candy, razor blades in apples, or needles in chocolate bars? Think you know the facts? You might be in for a surprise. In this episode, we trace the myth’s eerie origins—from Victorian-era fears to the unsettling story of the “Candyman” in Texas. Join us as we separate fact from fiction and reveal why this myth refuses to die. Tune in, if you dare, as we explore the dark side of the sweetest night of the year.

If you enjoyed this episode, you might also like:

Episode 171 – From Samhain To Superheroes: The Evolution of Halloween Episode 170 – Strange Reports of Vampires, Dwarves & Witches in Wilno, Ontario

As Halloween draws near, we turn our attention to one of America’s most chilling and enduring supernatural legends: The Bell Witch. Two centuries ago, a quiet farm in Tennessee became the stage for a haunting that captivated the nation. The Bell family faced relentless attacks from an unseen force that seemed to take a special interest in John Bell Sr. and his daughter Betsy. From eerie whispers to violent physical assaults, and even the involvement of future president Andrew Jackson, the story of The Bell Witch is more than just a ghost story—it’s a tale of fear, folklore, and mystery that has endured for generations. Press play and join us as we dive into one of the most spine-tingling stories in American history. If you enjoyed this episode, you might also like: Episode 134 – Canadian Poltergeists – Part 1, Part 2, Part 3 Episode 112 – The Enfield Poltergeist

The piercing scream of a train’s whistle in the dead of night feels like a ghost—it slips through the darkness, unseen, yet you can sense its approach, creeping ever closer. In this episode, we explore the spine-chilling world of ghost trains—phantom locomotives that travel forgotten tracks, leaving behind a trail of fear and mystery. From the lingering presence of Abraham Lincoln’s funeral train still haunting America’s railways, to the chilling urban legends surrounding Sweden’s Silver Arrow, we’ll uncover ghostly tales that defy time and space. We’ll also investigate the strange lights near long-abandoned tracks in rural Saskatchewan and explore the forgotten “ghost stations” hidden beneath our cities. These spectral trains have haunted our imaginations for generations—listen now to uncover the spellbinding stories that refuse to fade away. If you enjoyed this episode, you might also like: Episode 76 – The Signalman Episode 83 – Last Ride of Casey Jones For information on our ghost tours and paranormal adventures in Kingston, Ottawa and Toronto, Ontario, please visit hauntedwalk.com.

In the late summer of 1944, the small town of Mattoon, Illinois, became the epicentre of one of the most bizarre mysteries in American history. Residents reported a series of gas attacks—phantom prowlers using strange fumes that caused paralysis, illness, and widespread panic. Dubbed the "Mad Gasser of Mattoon," the story gripped the town for two weeks, with chilling eyewitness accounts and physical evidence fueling the fear. Then, just as quickly as it began, the attacks stopped, leaving more questions than answers. Was it all mass hysteria, sparked by the tensions of World War II? Or was there a real attacker lurking in the shadows? Join us as we uncover the facts, explore the theories, and ask: What really happened in Mattoon? If you enjoyed this episode, you might also like:

After a long hiatus, Haunted Talks returns, diving deeper than ever into the mysterious and unexplained! In this special episode, we unveil exciting new adventures—from spine-tingling nights at the Royal Ontario Museum to eerie ghost tours aboard a haunted ship. But that’s just the beginning. We also explore a mystery that has left historians puzzled for centuries: a groundbreaking discovery about the origins of Stonehenge’s altar stone. Could this massive six-tonne slab have travelled nearly 500 miles from Scotland? How did ancient people achieve such a feat—and why?

We share our conversation with paranormal podcasting legend Jim Harold. With nearly 20 years in the field and over 65 million downloads, he’s an important voice for fans of the supernatural. We discuss his journey from radio to full-time podcasting, the beginnings of his shows, The Paranormal Podcast and Jim Harold’s Campfire, and his favourite story, “The Mysterious Mrs. Raspberry,” from his new book, True Ghost Stories: Jim Harold’s Campfire Volume 6. (Listen to the episode to learn how to win a copy!) Join us as we talk about changing public attitudes towards the supernatural, the role of storytelling in the genre, and what keeps Jim Harold inspired after almost two decades of exploring the strange and unexplained.

If you enjoyed this episode, you might also like:

Episode 169 – Tales From the Tours – Volume 3 (Geist Podcast) Episode 117 – German Ghosts (Geistergeflüster Podcast)