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Inside one of the most haunted buildings in Canada — the Ottawa Jail Hostel, formerly the Carleton County Jail at 75 Nicholas Street, Ottawa, Ontario. From 1862 to 1972, this limestone prison housed up to 150 inmates in cells barely three feet wide, with no heat, no plumbing, and no light. Three men were hanged on its still-standing gallows: Patrick James Whelan in 1869 for the assassination of the Father of Confederation, Thomas D'Arcy McGee, William "Billy" Seabrooke in 1933, and Eugène Larment in 1946 — the last public hanging and the last execution in Ottawa's history. Roughly 140 unmarked graves were uncovered beneath the site's parking lot.

Today, paying guests sleep in converted death-row cells. Visitors and staff report a dark figure at the foot of the bed, the Lord's Prayer whispered in empty corridors, sudden nosebleeds near Whelan's unmarked grave, sleep paralysis in the old Warden's office, and the unmistakable sense of being watched on the eighth floor. We walk the building room by room — the basement "Hole," the women's wing, death row, the gallows, and the courtyard — and ask the harder question this place keeps raising: what does it mean to turn a site of real human suffering into somewhere you pay to spend the night?

Visit the Carleton County Jail & Ottawa Tours

If this episode pulled you in, the building itself is open to visitors. For guided historical and ghost tours of the Ottawa Jail and surrounding heritage sites, we recommend reaching out to our friend at Ottawa Tours by TAF — local, knowledgeable, and passionate about the haunted history of the capital. OTTAWA TOURS BY TAF

Carleton County Jail & Ottawa Heritage Tours Website: ottawatoursbytaf.ca

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Subscribe, share, and tell a friend who loves haunted history. Every listen helps us find the next story. Folklore · Haunted History · Urban Legends Website: www.letstalkspooky.ca

Sources

• Historical Society of Ottawa & Today in Ottawa's History

• The Globe (1869), Ottawa Citizen, Montreal Gazette (1933) — archival coverage

• The Canadian Encyclopedia & Dictionary of Canadian Biography — Whelan / McGee

• Lorna Poplak, Drop Dead (Dundurn, 2017)

• Heritage Ottawa & Ottawa Police Service historical archive

• Globe and Mail (Roy MacGregor, 2015); Canadian Geographic (Robin Esrock, 2024)

• Hostelworld — Jeff Delgado interview; Haunted Walk of Ottawa

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What if the scariest urban legends were real? Not metaphors. Not campfire exaggerations.

Actually, verifiably, documentable real — and the communities telling them knew something terrible was happening long before anyone with authority chose to listen?

In this episode of Let’s Talk Spooky — a solo-narrated folklore and haunted history podcast — we follow four true horror stories hidden within four legends you thought you already knew. Visit letstalkspooky.com  to connect with our socials and see what's new!! 

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If this episode got under your skin — share it. The best way to help Let’s Talk Spooky grow is to leave a rating or review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify, and to send it to one person you know who loves a good dark story. Word of mouth is still the most powerful algorithm there is.

Sources & Further Reading

The Pied Piper of Hamelin

• Lüneburg Manuscript (c. 1440–50); Hamelin Town Chronicle (1384); Stained glass window, Marktkirche

Hameln (c. 1300); Rattenfängerhaus inscription, Hameln, Germany. • Mieder, Wolfgang. The Pied Piper: A

Handbook. Greenwood Press, 2007. • Udolph, Jürgen. Linguistic surname research linking Hamelin to Polish &

Pomeranian records. • Kadushin, Raphael. “The Grim Truth Behind the Pied Piper.” BBC Travel, 2020.

The Greenbrier Ghost

• The Greenbrier Independent & The Monroe Watchman, 1897 (archived, WV Division of Culture and History). •

Baltimore American. “Mother-in-Law’s Vision as Evidence.” July 5, 1897. • Greenbrier County Courthouse —

trial records and autopsy report, 1897. • Lyle, Katie Letcher. The Man Who Wanted Seven Wives. Quarrier

Press, 1999. • e-WV: The West Virginia Encyclopedia. “Greenbrier Ghost.” wvencyclopedia.org.

Cropsey & Andre Rand

• Zeman & Brancaccio, dirs. Cropsey. Antidote Films, 2009 (Tribeca Film Festival). • Rivera, Geraldo.

Willowbrook: The Last Disgrace. WABC-TV, 1972. • The New York Times — coverage by Todd Purdum (Aug.

6, 1987) and Elizabeth Neuffer (Aug. 14, 1987). • The Charley Project — case files for all confirmed and

suspected victims. charleyproject.org.

The Black Volga

• Czubala, D. Wspónczesne Legendy Miejskie. Uniwersytet nlnski, 1993. • Brunvand, J.H. Encyclopedia of

Urban Legends. ABC-CLIO, 2001. • Kunicki, M. “The Red and the Brown.” East European Politics and

Societies, 2005. • Institute of National Remembrance (IPN), Warsaw — Piasecki case archival materials.

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In this episode of Let’s Talk Spooky, we explore the chilling lore, cultural warnings, and unsettling history behind the Wendigo and the Skinwalker. These are two of the most searched and most misunderstood figures in Indigenous folklore, Canadian legend, and North American supernatural storytelling.

We begin with the Wendigo, a terrifying figure found in the traditions of Ojibwe, Anishinaabe, Cree, Algonquin, Innu, and other Algonquian-speaking Nations. Often connected to winter, starvation, greed, isolation, and transformation, the Wendigo has become one of the most haunting presences in Canadian folklore, forest legends, and Indigenous oral tradition. We also explore real historical cases from Canada, including Swift Runner in Alberta and Jack Fiddler in Ontario, and examine how Wendigo stories were shaped, misunderstood, and reinterpreted through colonial history.

From there, we move into the deeply feared and widely misunderstood figure of the Skinwalker, known in Diné (Navajo Nation) tradition as yee naaldlooshii. Unlike pop culture versions of shapeshifters and monsters, the Skinwalker belongs to a specific cultural framework and should not be treated as generic paranormal folklore. In this episode, we discuss the Skinwalker carefully, focusing on public knowledge, cultural context, and the reason these stories continue to inspire fear across discussions of forest spirits, dark folklore, paranormal legends, and unexplained creatures in the woods.

This episode is for listeners interested in Wendigo stories, Skinwalker lore, Indigenous legends, Canadian supernatural tales, creepy forest creatures, dark folklore podcast episodes, and unexplained cryptid stories. As always, we approach these traditions with care and deliberately avoid sacred ceremonial or ritual details.

If you’re drawn to stories about haunted forests, forest spirits, ancient warnings, cryptids, supernatural creatures, and the darker side of folklore, this episode is one you won’t want to miss. 

A Note on Consent and Representation

This episode deliberately omits ritual and procedural details from both traditions. No sacred ceremonial knowledge has been reproduced. The accounts included are drawn from publicly shared oral histories, published journalism, and documented community storytelling. The producers of this podcast encourage listeners to seek out Indigenous voices directly.

Sources and Further Reading

Cultural attributions:

• Wendigo tradition: Ojibwe (Anishinaabe), Cree, Algonquin, Innu, and related Algonquian-speaking Nations
• Skinwalker (yee naaldlooshii) tradition: Diné (Navajo Nation)

Recommended reading:

• Louise Erdrich — The Night Watchman, LaRose, and essays on Ojibwe tradition
• Tomson Highway — The Rez Sisters and interviews on Cree spiritual life
• Adrienne Keene — Native Appropriations blog and academic writing on Indigenous representation
• Navajo Times — navajotimes.com
• Basil Johnston — Ojibway Heritage

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Step into the firelight and into one of the most fascinating festivals of the ancient Celtic calendar. In this remastered episode of Let’s Talk Spooky, we explore Beltane, the ancient Celtic fire festival that marked the beginning of summer and the thinning of the line between the human world and the spirit world. From ancient pagan rituals and sacred bonfires to fertility traditions, protection rites, fairy folklore, and the darker side of May Day legends, this episode digs into the history, mystery, and magic behind one of the most powerful seasonal celebrations in folklore.

We’ll talk about the origins of Beltane in Celtic tradition, why fire played such a central role in cleansing and protection, how people believed the fae were especially active, and how old customs surrounding witches, spirits, and supernatural forces shaped the night. Whether you’re interested in pagan holidays, European folklore, the history of witchcraft, seasonal traditions, or the eerie folklore tied to May Eve, this episode brings together the beautiful and unsettling sides of Beltane.

If you love stories about ancient festivals, folklore and superstition, Celtic mythology, fairy beliefs, witch lore, and the haunted edge of old-world tradition, this episode is for you.

Sources: 

Encyclopaedia Britannica, “Beltane” — strong overview of Beltane’s meaning, timing, and pastoral/fire customs. 

Encyclopaedia Britannica, “Belenus” — helpful for the older connection between Beltane and fire symbolism. 

Historic Environment Scotland, “Behind the Fire – the Symbolism of Beltane Fire Festival” — useful for Scottish fire symbolism, cleansing, and community ritual. 

Dúchas.ie, “May Day Customs and Beliefs” — excellent folklore source for beliefs about fairies, witches, fire, cattle, milk, and protection. 

Dúchas.ie, “Bealtaine Eve” — great source for May Eve customs, dew washing, may boughs, and fairy beliefs. 

Dúchas.ie, “Béasaí agus Nósanna Lae Bealtaine” — useful for household luck, primroses, ashes, and May Day prohibitions. 

Historic UK, “May Day Celebrations” — broader context for Beltane within May Day tradition. 

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In this episode of Let’s Talk Spooky, we explore two of Canada’s most unsettling locations—places where history didn’t just happen… it stayed behind.

We begin in Halifax at The Five Fishermen, a historic building that once operated as a funeral home. This site played a role in the aftermath of the RMS Titanic disaster and the devastating Halifax Explosion, where victims were brought, identified, and prepared. Today, staff and visitors report eerie encounters—reflections that don’t match reality, unexplained movement, and a lingering presence that refuses to fade.

From there, we travel west to Vancouver and step inside the Vancouver Police Museum—once the city’s morgue, autopsy room, and coroner’s court. A place where death was not only witnessed but examined repeatedly over decades. Connected to real cases, including the “Babes in the Woods” and early violent crimes in Vancouver, the building now houses reports of unexplained sounds, shifting objects, and an unsettling sense of being watched.

Two locations.Two very different kinds of hauntings.

One question remains— Do these places hold onto the people who passed through them…or the weight of what happened inside?

If you enjoyed this episode, make sure to follow Let’s Talk Spooky wherever you listen to podcasts.

And if you’ve ever experienced something you couldn’t explain—a place that didn’t feel quite right… We want to hear your story.

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On March 17th, 1995, six teenage boys from Pickering, Ontario, disappeared in the early hours of the morning after leaving a house party near the shoreline of Lake Ontario.

What followed was a large-scale search, an investigation built on fragments, and a timeline that—decades later—still feels incomplete.

While the official explanation points to a tragic boating accident, the available evidence does not fully establish how—or when—the events of that night unfolded.

SOURCES

• Durham Region News – coverage on anniversaries of the case
• Toronto.com – reporting on private investigator involvement
• Mysteries of Canada – case overview and timeline
• MissingPeople.ca – case summary and updates
• Vocal Media – compiled case narrative
• Kendall’s Place – video discussion and breakdown
• Community archive – Lost Boys of Pickering (Facebook memorial page)

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Got a story of your own? We’d love to hear it.

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What if someone saw you… Somewhere you’ve never been?

In this episode of Let’s Talk Spooky, we explore the unsettling idea of the doppelgänger—an identical double said to exist alongside you, ahead of you, or even completely separate from you.

From ancient beliefs to modern encounters, the idea of a second self has appeared across cultures for centuries. In ancient Egypt, the Ka was believed to be a spiritual double tied to one's existence. In Norse folklore, the Vardøger was said to arrive before you—your presence echoing forward in time. And in Celtic traditions, seeing your double was often considered a warning… something not meant to be witnessed.

But these stories didn’t stay in the past.

We move into real documented accounts, including the chilling case of Émilie Sagée—a teacher reportedly seen in two places at once by dozens of witnesses—and modern experiences where people have been seen, spoken to, or encountered… without ever being there.

Because sometimes, the most unsettling stories aren’t the ones that feel impossible—

They’re the ones that feel almost normal… until they aren’t.

📚 Sources & Further Reading 

• Émilie Sagée case⁠https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/%C3%89milie_Sag%C3%A9e⁠
• Doppelgänger folklore overview⁠https://www.britannica.com/art/doppelganger⁠
• Norse Vardøger⁠https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vard%C3%B8ger⁠
• Egyptian Ka⁠https://www.britannica.com/topic/ka-Egyptian-religion⁠
• Chinese hun and po⁠https://www.britannica.com/topic/hun-and-po⁠
• Reddit (modern experiences)⁠https://www.reddit.com/r/Glitch_in_the_Matrix/⁠⁠https://www.reddit.com/r/Paranormal/⁠

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In this episode of Let’s Talk Spooky, we explore some of history’s most unsettling disappearances—cases where people didn’t just go missing… they seemed to vanish.

From children who disappeared in broad daylight, to pilots lost mid-sentence, to historical figures who stepped out of reality itself—these stories challenge what we think we understand about time, space, and human experience.

Some of these cases may have explanations.
 Others… feel like they slipped through something we can’t quite see.

Case-Specific Sources

• Disappearance of the Beaumont children
   https://www.police.sa.gov.au/about-us/cold-case-investigation/beaumont-children
  
  
• Frederick Valentich disappearance
   https://www.naa.gov.au/explore-collection/immigration-and-citizenship/valentich
  
  
• Benjamin Bathurst disappearance
   https://www.historic-uk.com/HistoryUK/HistoryofEngland/Benjamin-Bathurst/
  
  
• Owen Parfitt disappearance
   https://www.historicmysteries.com/owen-parfitt/
  
  

Archival & Research Resources

• National Archives of Australia
• South Australia Police
• Historic UK

Books & Deep Dives

• The Mammoth Book of Unsolved Mysteries
• Vanished Without a Trace

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Leprechauns are often seen as cheerful little shoemakers guarding pots of gold—but their origins are far more complex, and much darker.

In this episode, we explore the folklore roots of leprechauns in Irish mythology, tracing their connection to older fairy traditions, solitary spirits, and trickster entities. We look at how these figures evolved through oral storytelling during times of hardship—particularly during the mass emigration of Irish people in the 19th century—and how their image was reshaped into the playful mascot we recognize today.

But beneath the green coats and gold coins lies something older… something not always friendly. 

Sources & Further Reading (Condensed & Credible)

• Briggs, K. M. (1976). A Dictionary of Fairies. Penguin Books.
• Evans-Wentz, W. Y. (1911). The Fairy-Faith in Celtic Countries. Oxford University Press.
• Yeats, W. B. (1888). Fairy and Folk Tales of the Irish Peasantry.
• Duffy, S. (Ed.). (2005). Atlas of Irish History. Gill & Macmillan.
• National Museum of Ireland – Folklore Collections
• Duchas.ie – The Schools’ Collection (Irish oral folklore archives)
• Ó Súilleabháin, S. (1967). Irish Folk Custom and Belief.

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Japan is home to some of the most chilling urban legends in the world.

Stories whispered in school hallways, shared on quiet train rides, and passed between friends late at night. Some of these legends have existed for decades… while others were born on the internet and spread like wildfire across message boards.

In this episode of Let’s Talk Spooky, we explore four of Japan’s most haunting urban legends.

A vengeful spirit that drags herself across the pavement searching for victims.

A masked woman who asks a terrifying question before revealing her true face.

A ghost said to haunt the bathrooms of Japanese schools.

And a train station that doesn’t appear on any map.

Join us as we dive into the eerie folklore and modern legends behind:

• Teke Teke
• Kuchisake-onna
• Hanako-san
• Kisaragi Station

These stories blend folklore, fear, and modern storytelling — proving that urban legends continue to evolve with the world around us.

But one thing never changes.

If you hear footsteps behind you at night…
 or a voice asking a strange question…

You might already be part of the story.

Teke Teke

• Yokai.com
• Michael Dylan Foster – The Book of Yokai
• Japanese folklore archives on urban legends

Kuchisake-onna

• Shūkan Asahi reports on the 1979 panic
• Shūkan Shincho coverage of sightings
• Michael Dylan Foster – Pandemonium and Parade: Japanese Monsters and the Culture of Yokai

Hanako-san

• Japanese school folklore collections
• Hiroko Yoda & Matt Alt – Yokai Attack! The Japanese Monster Survival Guide

Kisaragi Station

• 2004 posts on the Japanese forum 2channel
• Internet folklore archives on creepypasta and digital urban legends