This week, we’re diving into the world of Sleepy Hollow, the legend of the Headless Horseman, and its Celtic origins. From the imaginative prose of Washington Irving's "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow", this tale survived for over 200 years and has been adapted throughout popular culture.

Tune in as we embark on a journey through the misty, moonlit lanes of Sleepy Hollow, where the echoes of galloping hooves and haunting whispers still linger, leaving an unforgettable imprint on the tapestry of American storytelling. And what's better than that? Meet the Headless Hessian's much more metal Celtic cousin, the roaming Dullahan. Wanna guess what body part they use for their whip...?

For pictures and more information, please follow us on Instagram & Threads @thespectralpod and check out our resources below. If you want to send us a story or recommendation, email us: [email protected]. Please rate and review on your favorite listening platform. The ghosts and I will be eternally grateful. We hope you keep listening!

P.S. Did you know we always have bloopers after the outro music? Look at that, we provided an answer to a question you didn't even know you had. Alexis says, "You're welcome."

Resources

“10 Things You Probably Didn’t Know About Washington Irving.” Historic Hudson Valley, Accessed 19 Oct. 2023, https://hudsonvalley.org/article/10-things-you-probably-didnt-know-about-washington-irving/.

“Discover Sleepy Hollow, NY.” Village of Sleepy Hollow, New York, Accessed 19 Oct. 2023, https://www.sleepyhollowny.gov/discover-sleepy-hollow-ny.

Irving, Washington. “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow.” The Sketch Book of Geoffrey Crayon, Gent, Bernhard Tauchnitz, Leipzig, 1843

Kast, Terry. “The Headless Horseman of Ireland - Dullahan.” Celtic Ranch, 29 Oct. 2020, https://celticranch.com/blogs/celtic-culture/the-headless-horseman-of-ireland-dullahan.

Kennedy, Lesley. “What Inspired ‘The Legend of Sleepy Hollow’?” The History Channel, 22 Aug. 2023, https://www.history.com/news/legend-sleepy-hollow-headless-horseman.

“Monstrum.” The Original Headless Horseman, season 1, episode 4, PBS, 19 Nov. 2018.

“Tarrytown, NY.” Historic Hudson River Towns, Accessed 19 Oct. 2023, https://www.hudsonriver.com/hhrt/river-towns/westchester-county/tarrytown-ny.

Traynor, Jessica. “How tales of the headless horseman came from Celtic mythology.” The Irish Times, 23 Oct. 2019, https://www.irishtimes.com/life-and-style/abroad/how-tales-of-the-headless-horseman-came-from-celtic-mythology-1.4060086.

What exactly is behind the mysterious Taos Hum? These low-frequency “hums” are inexplicably heard around the world, but the Taos Hum might be the most well-known version of this phenomenon. Let’s dive into the history of “hums”, some theories behind them, and how they can drive people mad. Are you a hummer?

Report any unexplainable hums @ www.thehum.info

P.S. Did you know we always have bloopers after the outro music? Look at that, we provided an answer to a question you didn't even know you had. Alexis says, "You're welcome."

For pictures and more information, please follow us on Instagram & Threads @thespectralpod and check out our resources below. If you want to send us a story or recommendation, email us: [email protected]. Please rate and review on your favorite listening platform. The ghosts and I will be eternally grateful. We hope you keep listening!

Resources:

Hastad, Jonathan. “Top 10 Amazing Facts about the Taos Hum That’s Heard Worldwide.” ListVerse, 11 Apr. 2023, https://listverse.com/2023/04/11/top-10-amazing-facts-about-the-taos-hum-thats-heard-worldwide/.

Lallanilla, Marc. “Mysterious Hum Driving People Crazy Around the World.” Live Science, 25 July 2013, https://www.livescience.com/38427-the-hum-mystery-taos-hum.html.

Radford, Benjamin. “What is the Taos Hum?” Live Science, 20 Feb. 2014, https://www.livescience.com/43519-taos-hum.html.

Robinson, Lynne. “Editor’s note: Humming a new tune.” Taos News, 10 Feb. 2021, https://www.taosnews.com/tempo/culture/editors-note-humming-a-new-tune/article_555acbb7-7a2f-5ad1-be5b-e225b6d99cd1.html.

Salisbury, Vanita. “Investigating the Mystery of the Taos Hum.” Thrillist, 29 June 2023, https://www.thrillist.com/travel/nation/taos-hum-mystery.

Here’s a BOGO on scary stories! In this episode, we’re diving into two unexplainable events that still send shockwaves throughout their communities. First, we’ll talk about the phenomenon known as the “My Way” killings in the Philippines. Are these deaths really just caused by a Frank Sinatra-induced karaoke rage, or is something more sinister at play? Then, we’ll dive into the mutilated body found in the Billings Reservoir near Sao Paulo, Brazil. We can’t easily explain away 53-year old Joaquim’s gruesome wounds and missing organs, unless it’s… aliens? What do you think happened?

P.S. Did you know we always have bloopers after the outro music? Look at that, we provided an answer to a question you didn't even know you had. Alexis says, "You're welcome."

For pictures and more information, please follow us on Instagram @thespectralpod and check out our resources below. If you want to send us a story or recommendation, email us: [email protected]. Please rate and review on your favorite listening platform. The ghosts and I will be eternally grateful. We hope you keep listening!

Resources:

Bain, Ellisa. “Story of Brazil Reservoir Body ‘Mutilated By Aliens’ Is Truly Spine-Chilling.” HITC, 3 Oct. 2023, https://www.hitc.com/en-gb/2023/10/03/story-of-brazil-reservoir-body-mutilated-by-aliens-is-truly-spine-chilling/.

Bertram, Colin. “The Dark Connection Between UFOs and Grisly Mutilations.” History Channel, 28 Aug. 2023, https://www.history.com/news/ufos-aliens-animal-human-mutilation-lovette-cunningham.

Castro, Hector. “Karoke singer attacked after starting song.” Seattle PI, 9 Aug. 2007, https://www.seattlepi.com/seattlenews/article/karaoke-singer-attacked-after-starting-song-1246149.php.

Chimura, Anri. “How Frank Sinatra’s Song ‘My Way’ Triggered Filipino Karaoke Killings.” Esquire, 17 Oct. 2019, https://www.esquiremag.ph/culture/music/how-frank-sinatra-s-song-my-way-triggered-filipino-karaoke-killings-a00304-20191017-lfrm.

Gissen, Lillian. “The world’s deadliest karaoke song: More than a dozen people have been murdered while singing this 1960s American classic.” Daily Mail UK, 11 Sept. 2023, https://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-12493499/Deadliest-karaoke-song-people-murdered-Frank-Sinatra-Way.html.

Koor, Gurnoor. “The Disturbing Case Of The Mutilated Man.” Conspiracy Theories, 5 Oct. 2023, https://conspiracytheories.in/the-disturbing-case-of-the-mutilated-man/.

Morgan, David. “Karaoke Fan Killed For Singing Out Of Tune.” CBS News, 2 June 2007, https://www.cbsnews.com/news/karaoke-fan-killed-for-singing-out-of-tune/.

“Obscure Occurrences: The Mystery behind the body on the Billings Reservoir.” Horror Diaries, 1 Apr. 2023, https://realhorrordiaries.blogspot.com/2023/01/obscure-occurrences-mystery-behind-body.html?m=1.

Onishi, Norimitsu. “Sinatra Song Often Strikes Deadly Chord.” New York Times, 6 Feb. 2010, https://www.nytimes.com/2010/02/07/world/asia/07karaoke.

Reuters Life. “Karaoke the great escape in Philippine slums.” Reuters, 3 Apr. 2007, https://www.reuters.com/article/idUSL0315197420070403.

Savillo, Lia. “In the Age of Duterte, These Filipino Millenials Are Teaching Men to Treat Women Better.” Vice, 9 Dec. 2019, https://www.vice.com/en/article/a355ap/filipino-millennials-fight-sexism-harassment-duterte.

Smithers, Dominic. “Bizarre phenomenon of the ‘My Way Killings’ triggered by Frank Sinatra’s hit song.” Unilad, 29 May 2023, https://www.unilad.com/news/my-way-killings-frank-sinatra-philippines-karaoke-640050-20230529.

Terci, Mr. “The Most Terrible Brazilian Abduction? The Macabre Case Of The Billings Dam.” Aventuras Historia, 21 Aug. 2020, https://aventurasnahistoria.uol.com.br/noticias/reportagem/joaquim-sebastiao-goncalves-o-macabro-caso-da-represa-billings.phtml.

We're not talking about ghastly mozzarella sticks and loaded fries on this episode, but we will be discussing some apps that can leave you spooked if downloaded. How exactly did a mystic app lead a group of teenagers to a suitcase of human remains? And can you really talk to spirits with a digital, steampunk spirit box? What exactly does "HBG" have to do with Mr. Clean? Get all of these questions and more answered by listening to this week's episode of Spectral!

P.S. Did you know we always have bloopers after the outro music? Look at that, we provided an answer to a question you didn't even know you had. Alexis says, "You're welcome."

For pictures and more information, please follow us on Instagram @thespectralpod and check out our resources below. If you want to send us a story or recommendation, email us: [email protected]. Please rate and review on your favorite listening platform. The ghosts and I will be eternally grateful. We hope you keep listening!

Resources:

Lampen, Claire. “A Mystical, TikTok-Famous App Led Teens to a Dead Body.” The Cut, 2 July 2020, www.thecut.com/2020/07/what-is-randonautica-the-app-that-led-teens-to-a-dead-body.html.

Blue, Violet. “Stalker App Girls Around Me Hunts Women via Facebook, Foursquare.” ZD Net, 30 Mar. 2012, www.zdnet.com/article/stalker-app-girls-around-me-hunts-women-via-facebook-foursquare/.

Molloy, Mark. “Girls Around Me iPhone App Removed after Complaints and Privacy Concerns.” Metro, 3 Apr. 2012, metro.co.uk/2012/04/03/girls-around-me-iphone-app-removed-after-complaints-and-privacy-concerns-379034/.

National Post Staff. “Teens, Filming a TikTok, Find Dead Body in Suitcase after Using Popular Exploring App Randonautica.” National Post, 7 July 2020, nationalpost.com/news/world/teens-filming-a-tiktok-find-dead-body-in-suitcase-after-using-popular-exploring-app-randonautica

“Randonautica.” RANDONAUTICA, www.randonautica.com/. Accessed 10 Oct. 2023.

“Spirit Story Box App.” Youtube, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rj0arhEItQ4 .

“Spirit Story Box: The Spirits Are Telling Their Stories.” Spirit Story Box - iPhone Paranormal Ghost Hunting App, Streamside Software, LLC, www.spiritstorybox.com/. Accessed 8 Oct. 2023.

The Day family lost three hours of time while driving home one evening in 1974, they weren't sure what happened...until the nightmares started. Whether or not they were abducted all comes down to, "Do you want to believe?"

Did you know that we have a blooper after the outro music on our episodes?

Resources

Becket, Stefan. “UFO Hearing Key Takeaways: What a Whistleblower Told Congress about UAPs.” CBS News, CBS Interactive, 28 July 2023, www.cbsnews.com/news/ufo-hearing-congress-uap-takeaways-whistleblower-conference-david-grusch-2023/.

Conte, Michael. “Pentagon Officially Releases UFO Videos.” CNN, 29 Apr. 2020, www.cnn.com/2020/04/27/politics/pentagon-ufo-videos/index.html.

Cromie, William J. “Alien Abduction Claims Examined:” Harvard Gazette, Harvard Gazette, 20 Feb. 2003, news.harvard.edu/gazette/story/2003/02/alien-abduction-claims-examined-2/.

Lowth, Marcus. “John Day, The Mann Family And ‘Mrs. G’ – Crazy Claims? Or A Genuine Alien Abduction Spree In England, 1978?” Me Time for the Mind, Nov. 2015, www.metimeforthemind.com/john-day-mann-family-mrs-g-crazy-claims-or-alien-abductions.

“UFO Abduction.” ATV, 1980, https://www.macearchive.org/films/atv-today-02121980-ufo-abduction. Accessed 19 Sept. 2023.

Webb, Stuart. Alien Encounters. Rosen Pub., 2012.

What do quicksand, Andrew Jackson, and a witch have in common? The city of Yazoo, Mississippi! After a “treaty” forced Choctaw people to give up their land, the new bustling city of Yazoo was built in its place. However, 70 years after its creation, the entire city burned to the ground with no justifiable cause. The people of Yazoo still swear it was due to a curse a witch placed upon the city with her dying breath 20 years before the first building ignited. Are they looking to place blame on a tragic accident…or is there a reason the witch’s grave was found disturbed the morning after the flames? Really, the question comes down to…do you believe in the Witch of Yazoo? 

For pictures and more information, please follow us on Instagram @thespectralpod and check out our resources below. If you want to send us a story or recommendation, email us: [email protected]. Please rate and review on your favorite listening platform. The ghosts and I will be eternally grateful. We hope you keep listening!

Resources:

Apel, T. (2014, October 29). The Witch of Yazoo still Haunts the Town She Burned. Ledger. https://www.clarionledger.com/story/news/2014/10/28/witch-yazoo-still-haunts-town-burned/18093723/

Britannica (Ed.). (2002, May 31). Yazoo City. Encyclopædia Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/place/Yazoo-City

Hernandez, R. (2023, January 23). Group Wants to Excavate the Witch of Yazoo’s Grave. WJTV. https://www.wjtv.com/news/local-news/group-wants-to-excavate-the-witch-of-yazoos-grave/amp/

The History of Yazoo City. City of Yazoo City. (2021, May 6). http://cityofyazoocity.org/visit-yazoo-city/the-history-of-yazoo/

Lee, S. (2020). The Witch of Yazoo City. Independent.

McDaniel, A. (2018, March 8). Without Women, Some of Mississippi’s Earliest Newspapers Wouldn’t have Survived. Magnolia State Live. https://www.magnoliastatelive.com/2018/03/08/the-witches-widows-and-warriors-of-mississippi-journalism/

Morris, W. (1989). Good Old Boy and The Witch of Yazoo. Yoknapatawpha Press.

PBS. (2017). The Treaty of Doak’s Stand. PBS. Public Broadcasting Service. Retrieved September 16, 2023, from

Yazoo County CVB. (2023). The Legend of The Witch of Yazoo. https://visityazoo.org/witch-of-yazoo/

Whatever you do, don’t let them in. Let’s dive into the spine-tingling phenomena of the Black-Eyed Children, a paranormal enigma that has haunted and terrified people around the world. These children seemingly appear out of nowhere with eyes as dark as a moonless night, wearing shapeless clothes or getups draped in whispers of the past. They bring an unsettling presence with them and can’t seem to nail the whole “human child” schtick.

Are Black-Eyed Children just tricks of the mind, specters, demons or even… aliens? We'll delve into the commonalities among these stories from around the world, theories as to what B.E.K.s really are, and their villain origin story. Warning: this was our first late night recording session, so prepare for a few tangents.

For pictures and more information, please follow us on Instagram @thespectralpod and check out our resources below. Please rate and review on your favorite listening platform. Send us a spooky tale [email protected]. The ghosts and I will be eternally grateful. We hope you keep listening!

Resources:

G, Bev. “Are the Stories of Black-Eyed Children True?” Medium, 24 May 2022, medium.com/ill-meet-you-at-the-crossroads/are-the-stories-of-black-eyed-children-true-a36e819e4847.

“Legend Of The Black-Eyed Children.” Bangladesh Post, 30 Apr. 2022, bangladeshpost.net/posts/legend-of-the-black-eyed-children-82991.

Mohsin, Maria. “Legend of the Black-Eyed Children.” TBS News, 13 Mar. 2020, www.tbsnews.net/splash/legend-black-eyed-children-55705.

“Monstrum.” Don’t Let Them In! The Urban Legends of Black-Eyed Children, season 3, episode 8, PBS, 23 June 2021.

Snyder, Justin, director. Black Eyed Children: Let Me In. Gravitas Ventures, 2015, Accessed 5 Sept. 2023.

Listen along to legends of ancient Appalachia and remember if you heard something...no you didn't. If you saw something...no you didn't. And remember to always keep a buckeye in your bra!

For pictures and more information, please follow us on Instagram @thespectralpod and check out our resources below. Please rate and review on your favorite listening platform. The ghosts and I will be eternally grateful. We hope you keep listening!

Resources:

Dykeman, Wilma. “Appalachian Mountains.” Encyclopædia Britannica, Encyclopædia Britannica, inc., 14 June 2023, www.britannica.com/place/Appalachian-Mountains.

Engels, Jonathon. “30 Fascinating Facts about the Appalachian Mountains.” Blue Ridge Mountains Travel Guide, Blue Ridge Mountains Travel Guide, 5 Apr. 2022, blueridgemountainstravelguide.com/facts-about-the-appalachian-mountains/.

Lane, Brad. “Appalachian Trail Ghost Story.” Blue Ridge Outdoors Magazine, Summit Publishing, 24 Jan. 2013, www.blueridgeoutdoors.com/go-outside/appalachian-trail-ghost-story/.

Lewis, Amy. “Appalachian Folklore, Monsters and Superstitions.” Blue Ridge Mountains Travel Guide, Blue Ridge Mountains Travel Guide, 18 Mar. 2022, blueridgemountainstravelguide.com/appalachian-folklore-and-superstitions/.

NPS. “Convergent Plate Boundaries-Collisional Mountain Ranges.” National Parks Service, U.S. Department of the Interior, 11 Feb. 2020, www.nps.gov/subjects/geology/plate-tectonics-collisional-mountain-ranges.htm.

NWE. “Appalachian Mountains.” New World Encyclipedia, Media Wiki, www.newworldencyclopedia.org/entry/Appalachian_Mountains#Regions. Accessed 2 Sept. 2023.

“Tribal Communities in the Appalachian Region.” Appalachian Regional Commission, Appalachian Regional Commission, 4 Jan. 2023, www.arc.gov/tribal-communities-in-the-appalachian-region/.

Wiki, Contributors to Fallout. “Scorched.” Fallout Wiki, Fandom, Inc., fallout.fandom.com/wiki/Scorched. Accessed 4 Sept. 2023.

Latoya Ammons and her family moved to Gary, Indiana in November 2011 and almost immediately started experiencing strange phenomena, eventually leading to claims of intense hauntings and demonic possession. These happenings came to a head on April 19th 2012, when the youngest Ammons child displayed what many consider to be undeniable proof of demonic possession, all thoroughly documented by a DCS agent.

Latoya Ammon's experiences have been supported by many local clergy, law enforcement, and CPS officials, all of which claim to have been affected by the so-called "Demon House." However, many skeptics insist it was all a publicity stunt to get out of financial and legal trouble. The explanation of the case will leave you wondering, what truly did happen in the house on Carolina Street and is it really...a portal to hell?

For pictures and more information, please follow us on Instagram @thespectralpod and check out our resources below. Please rate and review on your favorite listening platform. The ghosts and I will be eternally grateful. We hope you keep listening!

Resources:

Bagans, Zak, director. Demon House. Freestyle Digital Media, 2018, Accessed 17 July 2023.

Joel. “Ammons ‘Demon’ House.” FrightFind, FrightFind, 2020, frightfind.com/ammons-demon-house/.

Kwiatkowski, Marisa. “The Exorcisms of Latoya Ammons.” The Indianapolis Star, Indianapolis Star, 1 Nov. 2022, www.indystar.com/story/news/2014/01/25/the-disposession-of-latoya-ammons/4892553/.

Rasmussen, Aaron. “Inside the Bizarre Case of the Indiana Home One Priest Called a ‘Portal to Demons.’” Travel Channel, Warner Bros., 4 June 2021, www.travelchannel.com/interests/haunted/articles/inside-the-bizarre-case-of-the-indiana-home-one-priest-called-a-portal-to-hell.