Spooky Times with Eric D

Host Eric Dwinnells was out of town and didn't think he'd have time to put together an episode this week, but then he remembered one he had in the vaults: Cult Brainwashing with Tom Cole!

WARNING:There is an issue with the audio on this one. You'll hear a crackling noise, but hopefully after the first minute or so, your brain will adjust and it will become white noise to you.

In this episode, Eric and Tom discuss how cults generally recruit new members and how they "brainwash" them to make sure they stay in the cult. We'll also discuss the fine line between a religion and a cult as well as which groups/religions are often accused of being cults and why.

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Host Eric Dwinnells is keeping a promise he made all the way back in episode 10; to continue talking about American Vampires. But, as he warns guest co-host Fatima Elmi, this is not a story for the faint of heart. Yes, this story is particularly depraved and gruesome, so listener discretion is advised. Tonight we'll be discussing the Sacramento Vampire, Richard Chase.

Chase was a clearly disturbed young man who lived under the delusion that a nazi crime syndicate was paying his mother to poison his blood. The only way he could same himself, according to Chase, was to imbibe the blood of others. But that's not even the worst of his crimes. 

In 1978, Richard Chase was charged with a series of grisly murders and other unspeakable acts but the real question was, due to his mental condition, should he be held fully responsible for his crimes or had his parents, schools, and the mental health system failed him so badly that they should share in some of the blame?

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It's been a few weeks since host Eric Dwinnells has had a guest on the show so to make up for it, he's got several tonight!As you may recall, Eric had been playing "Lonny" in a production of the musical Rock of Ages. In-between shows, Eric recorded some of his castmates sharing their own spooky stories.

Tonight you'll learn about the Poltergeist of Salve Regina University, a friendly phantom who may have saved a life, Aliens in Salem, The Ghost of Bowditch Hall at Salem State, The Murder of Beryl Atherton and her Ghost Haunting The Glover School in Marblehead, Family Members who pass on...but then come back, Historic Haunts in Marblehead, and the Cannibalistic Albinos of Mt. Umunhum and Hicks Rd!

All this and more on tonights extra special edition of Spooky A S!

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Host Eric Dwinnells is back to finish telling you about The Curse of the Pharaohs! The idea is that those who enter a pharaoh's tomb are cursed and often die of mysterious causes...but is there any truth to it? Tonight, he'll separate fact from fiction and explain some of the odd things that really did occur around the opening of King Tut's tomb and pointing out half truths and outright lies that grew around the story.

Loyal listeners will probably guess that Eric doesn't put much stock in the idea of a mummy actually getting up and murdering people like in the movies. But does that mean there is no truth to ancient Egyptian curses? What about the idea bacteria on mummies and/or growing on tomb walls can lead to death (thus creating a roundabout curse)? As recently as the 1990's there has been a death attributed to just such a "curse".

We'll here what the medical establishment, Lord Carnarvon's relatives, and noted skeptic Jams Randi have to say regarding all this and more on tonight's Spooky A S!

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Ok, we know...it's a short one. But work with us here! Your host, Eric Dwinnells has about 10 minutes of free time per day thanks to work stuff/theater stuff so he's giving you what he can. Tonight, we begin an in-depth two part look into the Curse of The Pharaohs! Apparently, ancient kings/gods on earth do NOT like to be woken up, but is there any grain of truth to the idea that ancient Egyptian tombs may be cursed?

Tonight we'll focus mostly on the many deaths and strange events said to be connected with the discovery of the tomb of the Pharaoh Tutankhamun aka King Tut, the boy king. What happened when Howard Carter opened discovered the door to the tomb? What could have caused the death of Lord Carnarvon or his daughter's stroke? Why did the Egyptian Director of Antiquities think it was a terrible mistake to allow King Tut's treasures to leave Egypt? And what horrors will Tom Cruise release in 2017's The Mummy (the first entry in Universals "Dark Universe")
 
All this and more will be discussed on tonight's Spooky A S!

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Eric Dwinnells and guest cohost Brian Toney are back and this time, they are talking about The King of Rock & Roll, Elvis Presley! More specifically, they are discussing numerous theories about why and how Elvis may have faked his death. Was Elvis running from the spotlight, an international group of conmen, the mob, or his own manager?

What proof is out there that Elvis lived for many years after his reported death? Well, there's the strange, waxy looking figure that was in his casket. Then his name is spelled wrong on his grave. What about all the photographic evidence? The numerous audio taped confessions? And the DNA evidence from Eliza Presley and the mysterious "Jess"! And just who or what is Jimmy Ellis aka Orion?

We'll discuss all this plus Eric reveals another of the strange customs of his hometown and gives audience members coming to see him in Rock of Ages a word of warning. And what happens when your computer just shuts down in the middle of your show? All this and slightly more on tonight's Spooky A S!

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Host Eric Dwinnells presents one of his favorite fairy tales, Hansel and Gretel! This story has everything you love: a wicked stepmother who attempts to murder children, a father who reluctantly agrees to the plot, a deep dark forest, a wicked witch who eats children, a house made of candy, and a child who murders a witch by pushing her into an oven!

But did you know the witch's home may be a symbol for the missing biological mother's body? Or that Hansel's use of bread crumbs may represent his reverting back to an infantile state? This and other ideas brought up in The Uses of Enchantment by Bruno Bettelheim are presented for your consideration.

Also discussed on this episode: How you can get tickets to see Eric in Rock of Ages, Eric's potty mouth, "bad kids", Sifl & Olly and acquired tastes in podcasts.

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It's been a tough couple of weeks for host Eric Dwinnells and although he was going to talk about the Japanese Suicide Forest or Creepy Kids, he found those topics too depressing for the mood he was in and decided to throw his notes aside. Instead, he's just winging it with guest cohost Brian Toney. Together they discuss Ghosts. What is a ghost? Where did belief in ghost come from and what role does the cultural and religious background of the true believer play in shaping their ideas about ghosts?

But be warned, this is NOT a typical episode. Normally Eric or the guest prepares notes on the given subject. Today, it's just two dudes sharing their thoughts. They both have a tendency to wander of topic so in addition to ghosts, you'll also her Eric and Brian discuss religion, the attractiveness of most paranormal investigators, bed sheets, end of life choice (aka death with dignity), Slimer and the Real Ghostbusters, Shakespeare, Passover, Easter, and leprechauns.

This is truly a unique episode that will stand out from the rest. You won't want to miss it!

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Your host Eric Dwinnells isn't feeling well, but that won't stop him from talking about nonsense with you...well, for a little while at least!

This week it's all about the infamous Black Dogs of The UK! We're talking about the wild hunt and the man so evil hellhounds came to greet him at his grave. We're talking the legendary Barghest and the revenge it takes on those who dare to cross him. We're talking the Hound of Baskervilles and his run in with Sherlock Holmes. We're talking the tale of Moddey Dhoo and his encounter with a drunken castle guard. We're talking about the infamous Black Shuck who left his mark on a church and who's actual bones may have been discovered in 2014!

But the UK isn't the only place haunted by phantom hounds. Right here in the USA we have the black dog of The Hanging Hills of CT. And, slightly off topic, but the notorious serial killer, The Son of Sam took his orders to kill from his neighbor's lab!

Also on this episode: Eric talks about a possible upcoming performance, his love of animals, and his feelings about London.

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We all know and love Freddy Krueger, the wise-cracking star of the Nightmare on Elm Street franchise, but did you know the character has real world roots? Tonight, Host Eric Dwinnells and guest co-host Kristen discuss the origin of Wes Craven's most famous creation, Freddy Krueger!

We'll talk about how he got his name, what true life events caused Craven to make him slightly less horrifying than he originally planed, what inspired Freddy's icon glove, and what terrifying childhood event inspired Freddy's famous sweater and fedora style.

But where it really gets interesting is what inspired Wes Craven to turn Freddy into a murderer who attacks in your dreams! An amazing true life mystery that science has no answer for...but folklore does!

Also discussed: Meeting Freddy for the first time, Last House on the Left, Sudden Arrhythmic Death Syndrome, Sudden Unexplained Nocturnal Death Death Syndrome, nightmare, pressing demons, shadow people, Hmong refugees, and how your cat may be planning to kill you!

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