Welcome to Camp Stormy Willow, where the s’mores are cursed and the cryptids don’t follow the rules. In this chaotic compilation, we revisit some of the wildest monsters we've ever covered—Bigfoot, Mothman, Black Eyed Kids, the Jersey Devil, and more—as they come together for one legendary summer. It’s spooky, it’s silly, it’s Monster Mayhem. Roll call starts now.

Popes in palaces. Time machines in the basement. A filing cabinet so secret you need a prayer to open it. This week, we’re deep-diving into the world’s holiest city-state and asking: what the actual hell is going on behind those gold doors? From haunted crypts and cursed relics to real-life exorcists and a prophecy that says this might be the last Pope ever—we’re cracking open centuries of mystery, scandal, and sacred shade. Get in, loser. We’re going to Vatican City.

General Historical and Structural Info

• Vatican.va – Official Vatican website (basic info about the state, pope, Swiss Guard, archives, etc.)

• History.com – Background on the Lateran Treaty, Vatican City’s creation, and papal history

• Britannica.com – Overviews of Vatican institutions, exorcisms, relics, and the papacy

Specific Topics and Claims

The Secret Archives & Forbidden Books

• National Geographic’s “Secrets of the Vatican” (documentary + article)

• Vatican Apostolic Archive (archive.vatican.va)

• “The Vatican’s Secret Archives Aren’t Secret” – The Atlantic

The Vatican Necropolis / St. Peter’s Tomb

• Vatican’s Scavi Office (scavi.va)

• Smithsonian Magazine: “The Secret History Beneath the Vatican”

RH-Negative Blood Theory

• Ancient Origins: “The Mystery of Rh-Negative Blood”

• Gaia.com articles (used with caution due to fringe angle)

Chronovisor

• “Father Ernetti’s Chronovisor: The Vatican’s Secret Time Machine” – Mysterious Universe

• Fortean Times and Ancient Aliens references (credible in the way spooky entertainment needs to be)

Prophecy of the Popes / St. Malachy

• “Prophecy of the Popes” – Catholic Encyclopedia

• History Today: “Is Pope Francis the Last Pope?”

Emanuela Orlandi Case

• Netflix: Vatican Girl (documentary series)

• BBC News, Reuters, and NPR reports on tomb openings and Vatican responses

Miracle of San Gennaro

• LiveScience: “Blood of Saint Januarius Turns to Liquid in Alleged Miracle”

• Smithsonian Channel coverage of the phenomenon

VatiLeaks

• The Guardian, New York Times, and BBC News articles on both VatiLeaks scandals

• “Merchants in the Temple” – Gianluigi Nuzzi (journalist involved in VatiLeaks)

Cadaver Synod

• History Extra: “The Cadaver Synod: The Pope Who Put a Corpse on Trial”

• Catholic Herald historical features

Two travelers. Two roadside stops. One terrifying question: what if time doesn’t just move forward? This week: gas stations, glitches, and time-traveling dads!

At 30 East Drive, the poltergeist doesn’t just make noise—it throws furniture, slams doors, and terrorizes anyone inside. What began as falling dust and eerie cold spots escalated into green foam oozing from faucets, lights exploding, and the dark figure of the Black Monk lurking in the shadows. Even priests failed to stop it. Decades later, the terror hasn’t faded—visitors report being pushed, scratched, and watched by something unseen. Is this Britain’s most violent haunting, or is there another explanation? Enter if you dare.

In 1952, Flatwoods, West Virginia, locals encountered a 10-foot-tall, red-eyed, hissing creature after seeing a UFO-like object crash nearby. Described as gliding with a spade-shaped body and reeking of sulfur, the Flatwoods Monster terrified witnesses, sparked alien theories, and became a legendary cryptid—despite never being seen again.

⚓ Ahoy, maties! Thinking of a relaxing dip in the ocean? Think again. Beneath those gentle waves lurk monsters older than dinosaurs, depths darker than your worst nightmares, and predators that make Jaws look like a guppy. From real-life sea creature encounters to terrifying survival stories, we’re diving headfirst into the ocean’s most chilling secrets. So grab your floaties—just don’t look down.

They came from the shadows, spoke no known language, and their skin was green—who were the children of Woolpit? 🕵️‍♂️👀

The boogeyman of Staten Island wasn’t just a story—he was real. Cropsey, the legend of a child-snatching madman lurking in the ruins of Willowbrook State School, became a chilling reality when kids began vanishing. The nightmare had a name: Andre Rand, a drifter with a dark past and ties to the infamous asylum. Convicted of kidnapping but suspected of far worse, Rand’s story leaves behind more questions than answers. Was he a lone predator, or part of something even more sinister?

In this episode, we dive into the real-life horror show of Word of Faith Fellowship (WOFF)—a cult masquerading as a church in Spindale, NC. Led by Jane Whaley, WOFF has been accused of blasting prayers (aka exorcisms on steroids), forced labor, and complete mind control. Would you rather spend a night in a haunted house or a week at WOFF? 👀👻

This week, we’re heading to Edinburgh Castle, where history and horror collide. From the Black Dinner’s brutal betrayal to ghostly pipers, headless drummers, and witch burnings, this place is crawling with spirits. Who still haunts the dungeons? Why do people hear phantom bagpipes? And what’s up with the ghost dog? Tune in for a deep dive into one of the world’s most haunted castles!