Monstras

What do you get when you mix a cult, Nazis, pedophilia and a close relationship with a dictator? 

In 1961, Paul Schafer left Belgium to escape accusations of sexually abusing more than 30 children. Chile at the time was a hot spot for ex-Nazis fleeing the end of WWII and so he decided to make a new home there and name it Colonia Dignidad. 

Along with 280 other Europeans he became the leader of this cloistered, odd, and torturous colony. In this month's episode find out all of Colonia Dignidad's dirty secrets...

TW: pedophilia (as already mentioned), Nazis, torture, genital mutilation (not detailed), and abuse 

Music by Patrick Mullens

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For Halloween we bring you some creepy stories by Albert and Jae from Coffee and Chisme. Inspired by Beyond Belief: Fact or Fiction tv show, we invite you to listen and try to figure out which story is true and which one is fake. The truth is revealed at the end of the episode! 

Make sure to listen to our stories on the Espooky Tales podcast on October 29th! You can also listen to their stories on Coffee and Chisme's podcast dropping on October 27th. 

Music by Patrick Mullens

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Why is the Amazon rainforest named after a tribe of warrior women from Greek myth? When Columbus embarked on his journey to the Indies in 1492 he arrived in the "New World" with preconceived notions of what he would find there - including monsters. 

Did Columbus and other explorers really encounter sirens, mermaids, and cannibals? Find out in this months' episode! 

Tw: Cannibalism (so much), penis disfiguration, and Columbus

Music by Patrick Mullens

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The opossum is a strange creature that baffled the earliest colonizers exploring Latin America. Little did they know that the little creature had cemented itself into local folklore. We explore how the Tlacuache brought fire, mezcal, and joy to humanity. 

TW: limp bizcuit

Music by Patrick Mullens

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Spoiler free! We got a special screening of the movie Escape Room: Tournament of Champions. Check out the movie trailer! 

We briefly go over the history of escape rooms, what we thought of the movie, and also feature a fantastic interview with Javi Kallback, a Latina Escape Room expert and creator from New Hampshire!

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Show Notes: 

Portsmouth Escape Room

Brief History of Escape Rooms

Crimson Room - Escape Room Game (that you can still play!)

Tales have persisted for over a century of a mysterious creature that lurks in the forests of the Dominican Republic. Both beautiful and deadly, her backwards feet lead men astray. But was her story created by one man, or was it a tale created before colonization...

Music by Patrick Mullens

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Sihuehuet was a woman whose beauty and charm ensnared a prince's heart. But her avarice, lust, and thirst for power transforms her into La Siguanaba, a horrific horse faced woman who lurks beside rivers, luring men and children to their deaths. 

What does this story tell us about women's role in society? And what does this 400 year old story tell us about the past, Indigeneity, and colonization? Find out the secrets of La Siguanaba in this episode! 

Music by Patrick Mullens

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In this episode we dive into the origins of La Virgen de Guadalupe and her rise in popularity in Europe and then Mexico. Was La Virgen a tool for colonization? Is she a figure of female oppression? We explore that and more! 

TW: rape (one single mention in regards to La Virgen), Catholicism, religion, and of course colonization 

Theme song by Patrick Mullens

For the holiday season we torture ourselves by reviewing Santa Claus Vs The Devil (1960) with special guest Ze. 

It features Santa Claus, Merlin, Vulcan, & and an array of cute children! The movie was released in Mexico in 1959 and was directed by Rene Cardona and co-written with Adolfo Torres Portillo. 

You can watch the movie for free here. 

15,000 years ago dogs accompanied the first human settlers across the Bering Strait. These dogs flourished alongside the incredible civilizations Indigenous people built across North, Central, and South America. 

Although those ancient dog breeds have all but disappeared their legacy remains in the form of myth, folklore, and archeological evidence. 

In this episode we take a quick jaunt back in time and talk about the different dog breeds that once existed and the way ancient Mesoamerican people utilized their canine companions. 

TW: dog eating (yes includes a few jokes sorry, but nothing too graphic)

Music by Patrick Mullens, Graham-Makes, & Lightning sound effect 

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