High Strangeness

Bathory: The Real Story Behind The World's Deadliest Countess

The Countess, a Novel of the Notorious Elizabeth Bathory with Rebecca Johns

Tony welcomes author Rebecca Johns to talk about her novel The Countess and the real historical figure behind it, Elizabeth Bathory. The conversation explores how myth turned Bathory into a vampire legend, what the historical record actually suggests, and why women who commit violence are so enduringly fascinating in fiction and culture.Rebecca Johns shares how she researched the book, why she chose a first person, letter style narrative, and how family dynamics, power, and historical distortion shaped the story.

Key topics

• In this episode, Tony and Rebecca Johns discuss Elizabeth Bathory, often remembered as the “Countess Dracula,” and whether the legend of a blood bathing vampire matches the historical evidence.

(0:00) Elizabeth Bathory and the vampire legend

(1:09) Why Rebecca was drawn to women who commit terrible crimes

(2:48) The Susan Smith case and the psychology of evil

(5:06) Discovering Bathory as the right story to tell

(6:54) Whole life novels and unreliable narrators

(8:15) Researching Hungary without strong English language sources

(10:09) Why ordinary life details are hardest to reconstruct

(13:33) Wealth, nobility, and the mindset of inherited power

(14:34) Film and TV portrayals of Elizabeth Bathory

(17:32) New nonfiction and competing interpretations

(19:48) What Bathory is actually known for

(21:14) How the 650 victims myth spread

(23:32) Why the legend became larger than life

(25:13) Writing Bathory as a damaged but human narrator

(26:28) Motherhood, Lolita, and the letter structure

(30:17) The early scene that shaped Bathory’s voice

(32:26) What turned out not to be true in the research

(35:02) Why myths outlast the historical record

(37:24) Adapting old stories by making them new

(39:16) Bathory, her husband, and punishment culture

(45:43) Hungary’s debt, war, and political motives

(48:58) Why Bathory became the enduring female villain

(52:32) Anti Enlightenment politics and serfdom in Hungary

(55:41) What Rebecca would ask Bathory if she could

(60:05) What readers get from The Countess

(62:30) Rebecca’s new novel project and TV pilot

(65:51) Social media, Substack, and where to find Rebecca

HIGH STRANGENESS NEWS DESK

WEEK 10 — October 12, 2026 to October 18, 2026

Website: https://highstrangeness202.wixsite.com/mysite

Youtube: https://youtu.be/X0O53ENPLJw

Black Hills Paranormal Investigation: Evidence, ethics, and what the team has learned after years in the field

Tony talks with Maurice “Mo” Miller, Zek, LeAnn, Casey, and Nan of Black Hills Paranormal Investigations in South Dakota about how their team works, what they look for during a case, and why they avoid the entertainment-first approach to ghost hunting. They also share several memorable investigations from Deadwood and the Black Hills, including full-body apparitions, unusual tech failures, and evidence that made clients feel heard and validated.In this episode, the team breaks down how they separate normal causes from paranormal claims, why cross-checking evidence matters, and how trauma, history, and location may all play a role in what people experience.

Timestamps

00:00 - Welcome to Black Hills Paranormal Investigations

02:25 - How the team formed and who does what

12:49 - Why they investigate like field researchers, not entertainers 18:32 - Helping clients feel heard before jumping to conclusions

19:43 - Mo’s early life-changing apparition in Deadwood

22:11 - Casey’s full-body sighting at the Adams House

27:44 - Why the Black Hills may amplify paranormal reports

31:42 - Zek’s first dousing rod investigation

35:08 - Why equipment can help but cannot replace judgment

40:12 - Tech failures, drained batteries, and strange equipment behavior 43:49 - Why demon talk is often overblown

47:00 - Casey’s room-level energy reaction and sudden nausea

51:39 - What counts as a successful investigation

57:45 - Historical sites versus private homes

59:00 - Ley lines, portals, and how spirits might move

65:20 - New tools, old tools, and the challenge of AI

74:28 - The Adams House photo that seemed to capture a man and child 77:15 - Rapid fire: underrated tool, overrated tool, favorite location 81:35 - Creepiest case and where the line gets blurry

83:42 - EVP versus visual evidence

86:27 - The biggest paranormal mystery they want solved

90:38 - Spirits, interdimensional beings, or both?

93:20 - Where to find Black Hills Paranormal online and what’s coming up

HIGH STRANGENESS NEWS DESK

WEEK 8 — October 5, 2026 to October 11, 2026

Website: https://highstrangeness202.wixsite.com/mysite

Youtube: https://youtu.be/i3kY_MdHwk0

Chasing the Headless Horseman: The History, Hijinks, and Halloween of the Real Sleepy Hollow

Tony talks with J.W. Ocker about his book Chasing the Headless Horseman and why Sleepy Hollow is more than just a Halloween story setting. J.W. explains how the real village, the folklore, and the seasonal mythology all overlap to create a place that feels inseparable from Halloween itself.

They also dig into the book’s reporting, the many adaptations of Sleepy Hollow across film and TV, and the real-world tension between preserving a spooky identity and managing tourism, development, and local life.

Key topics:

J.W. Ocker explains why the Headless Horseman feels more tied to Halloween than almost any other monster Sleepy Hollow is not just fictional - it is a real place in the Hudson Valley, about 20 miles from Manhattan Washington Irving’s The Legend of Sleepy Hollow is deeply rooted in actual landmarks that still exist today The town changed its name from North Tarrytown to Sleepy Hollow in 1996, which helped cement its Halloween identity J.W. describes visiting Sleepy Hollow during Halloween events, including seeing the Horseman on a live horse The book covers the many versions of Sleepy Hollow in pop culture, from early cartoons to the Tim Burton film J.W. interviewed a wide range of people for the book, including local officials, residents, business owners, and Adam Savage He also explores how Washington Irving influenced not just Halloween culture but Christmas traditions in America

A major theme in the book is the tension between spooky tourism and the realities of a working town facing development and rising costs J.W. says the book is meant to help readers understand why Sleepy Hollow matters, whether they visit in person or experience it through the page.

00:00 - Why the Headless Horseman is the perfect Halloween monster

01:23 - Why Sleepy Hollow only really works in fall

03:35 - A live Headless Horseman experience in a historic Utah setting

04:20 - Seeing the Horseman on a real horse in Sleepy Hollow

06:19 - Chasing the Horseman on a haunted hayride

07:13 - What Sleepy Hollow is and where it is

08:07 - Washington Irving, the story, and the real landmarks

08:36 - The town officially becomes Sleepy Hollow in 1996

09:05 - Why Sleepy Hollow became a Halloween destination

10:19 - How close Sleepy Hollow is to New York City

11:18 - The many Sleepy Hollow films and shows

12:38 - The two iconic adaptations: Disney and Tim Burton

13:31 - Sleepy Hollow memorabilia and costumes on display in a local store

14:35 - How J.W. structured the book chapter by chapter

15:58 - Interviews with locals, officials, and Adam Savage

16:27 - Other Sleepy Hollow locations across the United States

17:20 - Washington Irving’s unexpected influence on Christmas

18:47 - Why researching the book made J.W. even more obsessed

19:36 - Who the book is for and what readers can expect

21:14 - The economic shift from auto industry to tourism

22:39 - The friction between spooky tourism and development

24:31 - Why preserving Sleepy Hollow’s identity matters

25:42 - J.W.’s upcoming horror novel, Our Monster Who Art in Heaven

26:55 - Where to find J.W. Ocker’s books and writing

Chasing the Headless Horseman: The History, Hijinks, and Halloween of the Real Sleepy Hollow

Tony talks with J.W. Ocker about his book Chasing the Headless Horseman and why Sleepy Hollow is more than just a Halloween story setting. J.W. explains how the real village, the folklore, and the seasonal mythology all overlap to create a place that feels inseparable from Halloween itself.

They also dig into the book’s reporting, the many adaptations of Sleepy Hollow across film and TV, and the real-world tension between preserving a spooky identity and managing tourism, development, and local life.

Key topics:

J.W. Ocker explains why the Headless Horseman feels more tied to Halloween than almost any other monster Sleepy Hollow is not just fictional - it is a real place in the Hudson Valley, about 20 miles from Manhattan Washington Irving’s The Legend of Sleepy Hollow is deeply rooted in actual landmarks that still exist today The town changed its name from North Tarrytown to Sleepy Hollow in 1996, which helped cement its Halloween identity J.W. describes visiting Sleepy Hollow during Halloween events, including seeing the Horseman on a live horse The book covers the many versions of Sleepy Hollow in pop culture, from early cartoons to the Tim Burton film J.W. interviewed a wide range of people for the book, including local officials, residents, business owners, and Adam Savage He also explores how Washington Irving influenced not just Halloween culture but Christmas traditions in America

A major theme in the book is the tension between spooky tourism and the realities of a working town facing development and rising costs J.W. says the book is meant to help readers understand why Sleepy Hollow matters, whether they visit in person or experience it through the page.

00:00 - Why the Headless Horseman is the perfect Halloween monster

01:23 - Why Sleepy Hollow only really works in fall

03:35 - A live Headless Horseman experience in a historic Utah setting

04:20 - Seeing the Horseman on a real horse in Sleepy Hollow

06:19 - Chasing the Horseman on a haunted hayride

07:13 - What Sleepy Hollow is and where it is

08:07 - Washington Irving, the story, and the real landmarks

08:36 - The town officially becomes Sleepy Hollow in 1996

09:05 - Why Sleepy Hollow became a Halloween destination

10:19 - How close Sleepy Hollow is to New York City

11:18 - The many Sleepy Hollow films and shows

12:38 - The two iconic adaptations: Disney and Tim Burton

13:31 - Sleepy Hollow memorabilia and costumes on display in a local store

14:35 - How J.W. structured the book chapter by chapter

15:58 - Interviews with locals, officials, and Adam Savage

16:27 - Other Sleepy Hollow locations across the United States

17:20 - Washington Irving’s unexpected influence on Christmas

18:47 - Why researching the book made J.W. even more obsessed

19:36 - Who the book is for and what readers can expect

21:14 - The economic shift from auto industry to tourism

22:39 - The friction between spooky tourism and development

24:31 - Why preserving Sleepy Hollow’s identity matters

25:42 - J.W.’s upcoming horror novel, Our Monster Who Art in Heaven

26:55 - Where to find J.W. Ocker’s books and writing

Website:

https://highstrangeness202.wixsite.com/mysite

HIGH STRANGENESS NEWS DESK

WEEK 8 — September 29– October 6, 2026

Website: https://highstrangeness202.wixsite.com/mysite

Youtube: https://youtu.be/3kdVUneoCjs

Samhain and the Roots of Halloween with Luke Eastwood The host of High Strangeness interviews Irish author Luke Eastwood from County Kerry about his book Samhain: The Roots of Halloween, discussing Samhain as an ancient Irish festival meaning “end of summer,” with archaeological evidence at the Hill of Ward (associated with the goddess Clíodhna/Clucta) dating celebrations to at least 1500 BCE. Eastwood explains debates over Celtic fire festivals versus eight seasonal festivals, beliefs about a thinning veil between worlds, ancestor veneration, and how the Catholic Church attempted to suppress or reframe Samhain through All Saints/All Souls, yet many customs persisted and evolved into modern Halloween (lanterns from turnips to pumpkins, costumes, trick-or-treating, and party games rooted in divination). He warns against careless spirit-contact practices like Ouija boards, citing experiences with ghosts, demonic entities, curses, and poltergeists, and notes ethical distinctions in magical practice. Eastwood also previews his upcoming novel The Hereafter and shares where to follow his work.

00:00 Welcome and Guest Intro

00:34 Life in County Kerry

02:09 Weather and Climate Shifts

05:37 Setting Up Samhain Talk

06:23 What Samhain Really Means

10:07 Ancient Festivals Calendar

14:05 Thin Veil and Otherworld

20:04 Ghost Stories and Rituals

24:44 Ouija Boards and Warnings

36:07 Helping with Hauntings

38:50 Black Magic and Ethics

41:15 Ethical Magic Defense

42:00 Training and Intentions

45:09 Clucta and Samhain Origins

48:23 Christianization into Halloween

50:37 Costumes Lanterns and Trick or Treat

54:59 If Ancestors Saw Halloween

57:13 Reconnecting with Samhain

59:22 Rapid Fire Folklore

01:04:13 Book Takeaways and Myth Movies

01:08:15 New Novel The Hereafter

01:10:52 Where to Follow and Closing

HIGH STRANGENESS NEWS DESK

WEEK 7 — September 21–28, 2026

Website: https://highstrangeness202.wixsite.com/mysite

Youtube: https://youtu.be/iVexCPWgAJ8

Haunted Sports Venues and Legendary Locations

Explore the mysterious histories and paranormal stories associated with beloved sports venues, historic landmarks, and iconic sites. Learn how tragic events and emotional memories might leave spiritual impressions behind, making these places haunted. Perfect for fans, history buffs, and ghost enthusiasts alike.Key Topics - 5-10 bullets:

• The haunted history of Camp Randall Stadium on Civil War grounds
• The story of Pelly Lindbergh, a legendary Flyers goalie, and his spirit’s connection to Somerdale Road
• The legend of Notre Dame’s haunting French horn player and the ghost of George Grip, the "Win One for the Gipper"
• The haunted tales of the Skirvin Hotel in Oklahoma and its tragic ghostly presence
• Paranormal activity at the Milwaukee Pister Hotel, including unexplained noises and ghostly encounters
• The history and hauntings of old Yankee Stadium and Montreal’s Olympic Stadium
• The influence of emotional and traumatic events on residual hauntings in sports and historical sites
• The connection of spirits to building energies, like stadiums and old construction sites
• The lore of the Old Giants Stadium and the rumored burial of Jimmy Hoffa beneath it
• Superstitions, curses, and legendary claims surrounding stadiums like Buffalo’s Highmark Stadium, Denver International Airport, and the Philadelphia curse on city landmarks

Timestamps:00:00 - Welcome and introduction to sports-themed haunted locations

02:15 - Personal stories and recent events of Bill’s anniversary trip

04:28 - Haunted locations with little-known paranormal histories

09:41 - The Civil War history of Camp Randall Stadium and its spiritual residue

19:36 - The infamous Notre Dame stadium haunted by George Grip

27:45 - The ghostly tales of Rochester’s Frontier Field with bones and bones race stories

48:48 - Milwaukee’s historic Pister Hotel and paranormal encounters

53:29 - The haunted Skirvin Hotel in Oklahoma and its ghostly legends

58:45 - Haunted NFL stadiums and their stories of spirits and curses

62:22 - Philadelphia’s curse and legendary sports superstitions

64:10 - The mysterious stories of the Denver International Airport

65:23 - Final thoughts on how legends and stories create haunted reputations in sports venues

HIGH STRANGENESS NEWS DESK

WEEK 6 — September 15–20, 2026

Website: https://highstrangeness202.wixsite.com/mysite