Haunted Talks

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See all of our episodes at: https://hauntedwalk.com/podcasts/

For the first time ever, scientists have recorded the brain activity of a patient in the moments right before and immediately following death. The results may be the first scientific evidence of the often reported "seeing your life flashing before your eyes" during a near-death experience. We are joined by Dr. Kate Einarson, a behavioural scientist and knowledge translator, to discuss the findings, the answers they provide, and the new questions they raise. Join us for a mind-blowing episode of Haunted Talks!

Robert Service's The Cremation of Sam McGee is a beloved Canadian ghost story set in the unforgiving North. Many can identify it with just the first few lines. Themes of survival, obligation and brutal relentless cold, unexpectedly culminate in a surprise twist ending. We share a reading of the iconic poem and explore its strange history and the urban legends that surround this masterpiece.

Can we be haunted by our own thoughts? Or use them to haunt others? Few ideas produce the fear and existential dread that Roko's Basilisk provides. This unique thought experiment was considered so potentially disturbing, that the original website to which it was published quickly banned the topic. We break down this strange collision of urban legend, artificial intelligence and philosophy.

Listener Warning: If you are struggling right now, or don't want to deal with existential questions about reality, we would suggest listening to a different episode. But, if you love a good metaphysical mystery that challenges our perceptions, and provides a good chill, join us as we head down the rabbit hole and explore the philosophical head-trip that is Roko's Basilisk.

We are going to be talking about death, but not in the usual ways we do on this podcast. There will be little discussion of the paranormal, and no mention of grizzly murders, unsolved or otherwise. Instead, we will be looking into the lives and businesses of those who spend the most time with the dead – Undertakers. Joining us will be a historical researcher and author, Marion Roes, to talk about her new book, Death as Life's Work, which focuses on Undertakers and Funeral Businesses in the Waterloo, Ontario region from 1850-2020. Marion will be sharing with us some of the practices that have changed in the industry over the years, surprising artifacts she unearthed during her research, and her family's unique experience of operating a funeral home for over 100 years.

Follow Marion Roes on Twitter and her Facebook Page "Undertakers and Their Businesses in Waterloo Region".

Katarina and Diandra, co-hosts of the German paranormal podcast, Geistergeflüster, join us for a paranormal cultural exchange. In addition to sharing some of their favourite German ghost stories, which include the origins of Sleepy Hollow's headless horseman and a spirit who is very concerned about eating lunch, we also discuss the surprising way Germans think about the supernatural.

Each year around this time, we share a fictional Christmas-themed ghost story. The kind of which used to be more commonly shared between friends and family while huddling around a fire on a blustery December night. This year's story "The Crown Derby Plate" was written by Marjorie Bowen and was first published in 1931. What we really like about The Crown Derby Plate, besides it being set during the Holidays, is that it beautifully captures the sense of an isolated and eerie house in the country, where clearly something is wrong. It's creepy, atmospheric, and gets under your skin. While the story revolves around the search for a missing china plate, the real mystery that captures our attention is the uncanny and threatening nature of the secluded home and its awful garden. So, get the kettle going, stoke the fire, and tuck yourself under a warm blanket…things are about to get chilling!

December 5th is Krampusnacht! In this special episode we share our recent live Virtual Haunted Campfire on Krampus. Who is he and where does this bizarre tradition come from? What's the connection between a demon and Santa Claus? Join us as we kick off the Haunted Holiday Season with Krampus and share some seasonal ghost stories!

Featuring: KRAMPUS!, Glen Shackleton, Jim Dean, Rowena Brook, and Margo MacDonald