Left of Skeptic

Happy Spooky Wednesday, dears! We’ve got extraterrestrials and the Wild Wild West for you this week.

Kala talks about former United States President Jimmy Carter’s UFO experience, as well as the stories from past US presidents. Is the government really hiding something? If so, they don’t seem to be hiding it very well.

Then Brittany covers Big Nose Kate’s Saloon in Tombstone, Arizona. Neither host is particularly thrilled about the description Kate has been given, but we both agree that Kate has lived an eventful and interesting life. Her life was so wild that it seems it couldn’t be contained within our mortal plane, because she (and some friends) have decided to stick around and bother poor service workers even after death.

Happy Spooky Wednesday, everyone! This week we’ve got two stories that will leave you wondering, "Are humans cursed or blessed?"

Kala starts by discussing Anthropodermic bibliopegy—the practice of binding books in human skin. At its peak during the Victorian era, many of these volumes still exist in museums, colleges, and private collections today. How to handle these books, though, has been a matter of debate for years, and it doesn’t seem like the debate is going to end anytime soon.

Then Brittany talks about the (much nicer) Third Man Syndrome. This phenomenon happens when humans are in life-or-death situations. People feel the presence of a being that, while not actually there, calms and assists them in their time of need. Is this the human brain playing tricks under stress? A religious experience? Helpful spirits? We may never know, but it’s certainly a heck of a lot more pleasant to think about than books wrapped in human leather.

Editor's Note: The highwaymen that Brittany was thinking of were the Harpe Brothers... and they were awful.

This week, we’re back to our regularly scheduled programming with two salty little tales. Kala talks about The Saltair near Salt Lake City in Utah. This concert venue has been rebuilt twice after the previous buildings were destroyed by fire and dilapidation. Oddly enough the ghosts seem to be the result of its more recent life, and not the spirits of the building in its heyday.

Then Brittany discusses the Molly Brown House in Denver, Colorado. Molly Brown was an absolute badass who is best known for surviving the sinking of the Titanic. But she should be known for so much more. Her philanthropy and ability to make her fellow rich folks give up 'the goods' make us wish we could meet her in person. While she’s long gone, you can still take a tour of her old mansion where you just might catch a glimpse of her in the afterlife.

Content warning: Kala’s story this week includes some discussion of suicide. If you wish to skip this topic, jump to Brittany’s story at 42:08.

And Brittany tells us about the legend of The Whistler. In this creepy story, a person heard whistling as a child, then the exact same whistling again 2 years later in a completely different place. That’s not too creepy, right? It gets weirder. As an adult, they hear the same whistling AGAIN, on a camping trip with their girlfriend - causing them to look further into what this could be… Once he had an idea of what might be going on, that’s when the creepiness really began.

Happy Spooky Wednesday, dear listeners! We’ve got a treat for you! The return of special guest, Adam Herman! He joins us for Spooky Game week of Urban Legends October, where we discuss The Midnight Game. While other cursed games we’ve talked about in the past have various rewards, this game only has one prize if you win: your life. Which has us all wondering why you’d ever play in the first place? Apparently the lack of a proper trophy has never stopped people from trying it in the past. So the question is: Are you willing to play a deadly game for only bragging rights? Or are you smart?

And of course, don't forget this universal truth... playing Rod Stewart will get you better gas mileage.

Happy Spooky Wednesday! We are at the midpoint of our 4th Urban Legends October, and we have some creepypastas sure to keep you up at night! Unless you’re like us, these stories will help you sleep like a baby.

First up, Kala talks about the internet legend known as Eyeless Jack. This creature in a hoodie, mask, and deep voids for eyes is coming to steal your internal organs! While the original creepypasta may not have been particularly well written, that hasn’t stopped his legend from spreading all across the internet. Eyeless Jack is over a decade old, but Brittany has new a tale that we feel might become a creepypasta legend. The Job Offer provides insight to what lengths people will go to make sure they can pay their rent. Red flags be damned. When other employers won’t pay you a living wage, you gotta do what you gotta do.

Happy Spooky Wednesday, ghouls and zombies! We are in our second week of Urban Legends October and this week we are featuring legends from Scotland!

First up, Kala talks about the myths known as Selkies and Kelpies. They are both shapeshifting creatures known for haunting the waters, but have very different temperaments. While stories of the Selkies portray them as sweet creatures who encounter tragic circumstances, Kelpies are malevolent creatures who create tragic circumstances.

And Brittany tells us the tale of A75 Kinmount Straight, also known as “The Ghost Road.” If you dare to travel this highway, beware that humans (and possibly chickens, wild cats, dogs, and phantoms?) may run out in front of your vehicle at any given moment. But you don’t have to worry about a crash because when you pull over, you will find they were never actually there (OooooOooo... spooky...). Many a lorry driver have shared their stories... and we're pretty sure this is a road we will never want to drive down. If not because of the ghosts, it’s because of ✨anxiety ✨.

Happy Spooky Wednesday, and Happy Urban Legends October, everyone!

We’ve got two stories that are perfect for putting you in the mood for the Halloween season. Kala tells the tale of Stingy Jack, the origin story for Jack O’ Lanterns. When Jack ticked off the Devil by tricking him one too many times, he was forced to wander the afterlife for eternity, never entering Heaven or Hell, with only the light of a fire inside a turnip to light his way. How in the heck does this become the spooky carved pumpkins we know today? Once combined with other folk tales and natural progression of traditions, you will see.

And Brittany tells us all about Clara Crane AKA The Candy Lady. The reason for her nickname is not so sweet. After the tragic death of her daughter, she blamed her husband and used sweets to take her revenge. Later on, kids started disappearing. It turns out mystery candy had been showing up with notes from “The Candy Lady” asking if they could come out and play. The ones that did weren’t seen again. How much of this story is truth, and how much is urban legend? This story will make sure you never take candy from strangers.

Happy Spooky Wednesday, Folks! Kala’s got two locations for you this week, which are often discussed at the same time. The Tennessee State Prison and the Brushy Mountain State Penitentiary are located about an hour and a half away from each other, and both are plagued by paranormal activity brought on by years of overcrowding, violence, and general ill-treatment. While the TSP was basically demolished by a tornado in 2020, Brushy is still available for tours. Will you encounter the ghost who is still having nicotine cravings, or try to escape the heat with the cold spots in the chapel? And Brittany tells us about the badass, Giulia Tofana. This woman continued the work of her mother Thofania d'Adamo, who created the elixir known as Aqua Tofana. Through the 17th-century whisper network, this poison saved women from abusive arranged marriages for decades. While we would never condone this activity today, the women of this era didn’t seem to have any other choice. And it would seem that Giulia Tofana was a hero to more people than we can count.

If you or someone you know is in an abusive relationship, please don’t hesitate to call the National Domestic Violence Hotline. They have folks who can talk to you 24/7 in English, Spanish, and 200+ additional languages through interpretation services

Call 800-799-7233 or text 88788

Or visit their website at www.thehotline.org

Editor’s Note: Women were allowed to apply for credit cards independently in 1974, after the passage of the Equal Credit Opportunity Act (ECOA). Before the ECOA, banks could refuse to issue credit cards to women or require their husbands to co-sign for them.