In this episode of Tales, Trails, and Taverns, Rob takes Joe down one of the darkest rabbit holes in modern American history — Project MKUltra.
Together, they explore how the CIA’s secret mind-control experiments began, what the agency claimed to be studying, and how far those experiments may have gone behind closed doors.
From government-sanctioned psychological warfare and drug testing to the disturbing involvement of figures like Whitey Bulger and Charles Manson, Rob and Joe unpack the known facts, the declassified documents, and the unsettling questions that still linger decades later.
Was MKUltra truly abandoned, or did it simply change names? Along the way, the conversation reflects on power, secrecy, and the lasting impact these experiments may have had on individuals—and society as a whole.
And because even the darkest stories deserve a moment of warmth, Rob and Joe close the episode by wishing all of you a very Merry Christmas and thanking you for spending part of your holiday season with them.
Pull up a chair, pour a drink, and brace yourself—this is one deep dive you won’t forget.

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In this episode of Tales, Trails, and Taverns, Joe takes Rob deep down the rabbit hole of the GATE program—an educational initiative originally designed to challenge and support gifted students. But along the way, the conversation takes a much darker and more unsettling turn.
Why do so many former GATE students, across different states and decades, report strikingly similar memories? Being pulled from class into darkened rooms. Men in suits carrying briefcases. Headphones, strange frequency tests, logic cards… and a thick pink drink with no explanation.
Some even recall experiences they later identified as astral projection or heightened awareness—memories many say were buried for years.
Joe and Rob break down the documented, real-world purpose of the GATE program, separating fact from speculation, while also exploring how programs meant to identify gifted minds could be vulnerable to misuse.
Could intelligence agencies like the CIA have seen opportunity in a system already designed to isolate exceptional children? Or are these shared memories the result of misunderstood testing, childhood perception, and decades of silence?
This episode doesn’t claim answers—but it asks uncomfortable questions about education, secrecy, and how easily good intentions can be twisted.
Listener discretion advised—this one lingers long after the credits roll.

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⭐ Thank you for listening to Tales, Trails and Taverns, where we explore haunted history, dark trails, forgotten legends, and the mysteries hiding in your own backyard.
⭐ If you enjoyed this episode, please take a moment to rate and review the show—it helps more curious souls find us.
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Keep exploring. Keep questioning. And as always—stay spooky.

This week on Tales, Trails, and Taverns, things get a little darker than usual—because Rob is taking us deep below the surface of the internet and into the shadowy corridors of the dark web.
Joe sits back as Rob explains what the dark web actually is, how it works, and why it exists—far beyond the myths, urban legends, and Hollywood exaggerations.
But that’s just the beginning. From there, we dive into chilling, real accounts from people who wandered into digital places they never should’ve gone… in search of things they couldn’t obtain by any normal means.
We explore stories of hidden forums, strange marketplaces, unsettling chatrooms, and the kind of encounters that make you want to slam your laptop shut and leave the room. These aren’t ghost stories in the woods—these are modern, technological nightmares whispered by people who claimed to see something they can’t forget.
This episode is a stark reminder: sometimes the scariest things aren’t spirits in abandoned buildings or shadows in the forest… sometimes the danger is just a few keystrokes away.
Grab a drink, turn down the lights, and join us for a journey into the hidden underbelly of the internet—where curiosity often comes with a price.

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⭐ Thank you for listening to Tales, Trails and Taverns, where we explore haunted history, dark trails, forgotten legends, and the mysteries hiding in your own backyard.
⭐ If you enjoyed this episode, please take a moment to rate and review the show—it helps more curious souls find us.
📲 Follow all our links—podcast platforms, books, website, social media, and more—right here:
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Email us or message us through Linktree—we’d love to hear from you. Until next time…
Keep exploring. Keep questioning. And as always—stay spooky.

In this episode, Rob and Joe head deep into one of Massachusetts’ most storied—and unsettling—historical sites: Tewksbury State Hospital. Once a sprawling almshouse and later one of the state’s largest medical institutions, Tewksbury’s history is layered with hardship, controversy, and thousands of forgotten lives.
Joe takes listeners through the 150-year history of the hospital—from its beginnings as an overcrowded refuge for the poor in the 1850s, to the scandals that rocked the institution in the 1870s, to its transformation into a massive state hospital complex with its own farms, wards, and burial grounds.
Rob and Joe then recount their visit to the grounds, exploring the red-brick buildings, the quiet lanes, and most haunting of all—the Cemetery in the Pines, where thousands of unmarked graves rest beneath the shadowed trees.
They discuss the atmosphere of the site, the heavy sense of history in the air, and the lingering stories that refuse to fade.

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⭐ Thank you for listening to Tales, Trails and Taverns, where we explore haunted history, dark trails, forgotten legends, and the mysteries hiding in your own backyard.
⭐ If you enjoyed this episode, please take a moment to rate and review the show—it helps more curious souls find us.
📲 Follow all our links—podcast platforms, books, website, social media, and more—right here:
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🕯️ Have a ghost story, creepy location, or strange encounter you'd like us to cover?
Email us or message us through Linktree—we’d love to hear from you. Until next time…
Keep exploring. Keep questioning. And as always—stay spooky.

In this Thanksgiving episode of Tales, Trails, and Taverns, Joe and Rob dive deep into two of the Northeast’s most mysterious and myth-soaked locations: Camp Hero in Montauk and Plum Island, just off the coast of Long Island. Both places have rich, complicated histories—military experiments, secret research, Cold War paranoia—and both have sparked some of the wildest conspiracy theories of the last half-century.
Joe explores the origins of Camp Hero, from its World War II radar towers to the chilling folklore of covert experiments that inspired the infamous Montauk Project. Rob digs into the strange past of Plum Island, the isolated government research facility that has fueled decades of speculation about biological testing, escaped creatures, and government secrecy.
Together, they unravel the history behind the rumors, separate fact from fiction, and talk about how the story of Montauk ultimately inspired Stranger Things—though the full book deep dive will come in a later episode. It’s an episode filled with shadowy research labs, abandoned bases, Cold War anxieties, and the strange way mystery takes root in isolated places.
And since it’s a holiday week, Joe and Rob wrap things up by wishing all of you a warm and spooky Happy Thanksgiving. Stay curious, stay safe, and as always—thanks for joining us on the trail.

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⭐ Thank you for listening to Tales, Trails and Taverns, where we explore haunted history, dark trails, forgotten legends, and the mysteries hiding in your own backyard.
⭐ If you enjoyed this episode, please take a moment to rate and review the show—it helps more curious souls find us.
📲 Follow all our links—podcast platforms, books, website, social media, and more—right here:
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Keep exploring. Keep questioning. And as always—stay spooky.

In Part Two of our conversation with Erica—lead villain of The Rez, urban explorer, and paranormal investigator—we go even deeper into the shadows that followed her home.
Joe and Rob pick up where they left off, as Erica reveals chilling details about the aftermath of filming inside the haunted Freetown State Forest—including the unsettling presence she believes may have attached itself to her after production wrapped.
From strange sounds and shifting shadows to a heavy presence that seemed to stalk the corners of her home, she shares her most personal and unnerving experiences yet. But the haunted forest was only the beginning.
Erica takes us inside some of New England’s most notorious abandoned asylums—Laconia State School, Norwich State Hospital, and others—where she’s explored crumbling hallways, forgotten wards, and the lingering echoes of suffering.
She talks about the energy inside these places, what investigators look for, and the stories that continue to haunt her long after she’s gone.
Dark history, dangerous locations, and inexplicable encounters—this is our most intense exploration with Erica yet.
If you thought Part One was wild, wait until you hear what the forest—and the forgotten—left behind.
Youtube: Glamour ghoul paranormal
Instagram @officialglamourghoul

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⭐ Thank you for listening to Tales, Trails and Taverns, where we explore haunted history, dark trails, forgotten legends, and the mysteries hiding in your own backyard.
⭐ If you enjoyed this episode, please take a moment to rate and review the show—it helps more curious souls find us.
📲 Follow all our links—podcast platforms, books, website, social media, and more—right here:
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Email us or message us through Linktree—we’d love to hear from you. Until next time…
Keep exploring. Keep questioning. And as always—stay spooky.

In this special two-part episode of Tales, Trails & Taverns, Joe and Rob sit down with Erica — the lead villain from Rob’s upcoming horror film The Rez — to dive into the real-life darkness behind the role. Erica isn’t just an actress with a talent for unsettling performances… she’s also an avid urban explorer and seasoned paranormal investigator with stories that blur the line between acting and authentic terror.
Together, the three dig into her time exploring abandoned institutions like the infamous Fernald School, the eerie energy inside long-forgotten hospital wards, and the unexplained encounters that have followed her from one location to the next. From footsteps that weren’t hers to voices echoing through places long vacated, Erica recounts what it’s really like to push deeper into spaces most people wouldn’t dare to enter.
Rob talks with her about channeling that raw, unsettling energy into her performance in The Rez, while Joe connects the dots between her experiences and some of the region’s most notorious hotspots for hauntings.
Get ready for creepy first-hand accounts, behind-the-scenes insights, and enough nightmare fuel to keep your flashlight batteries close. This is one interview that refuses to stay in the dark.
Glamour Ghoul Paranormal - YouTube
IG @officialglamourghoul

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⭐ Thank you for listening to Tales, Trails and Taverns, where we explore haunted history, dark trails, forgotten legends, and the mysteries hiding in your own backyard.
⭐ If you enjoyed this episode, please take a moment to rate and review the show—it helps more curious souls find us.
📲 Follow all our links—podcast platforms, books, website, social media, and more—right here:
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Email us or message us through Linktree—we’d love to hear from you. Until next time…
Keep exploring. Keep questioning. And as always—stay spooky.

In this special episode of Tales, Trails, and Taverns, Joe and Rob — both proud U.S. Marine veterans — raise a glass to the birthplace of the Corps: Tun Tavern in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They dive into the history of the legendary tavern, where on November 10, 1775, the Continental Marines were first recruited under Captain Samuel Nicholas.
The episode explores how this unassuming colonial tavern became the cornerstone of Marine Corps tradition and pride — a place where camaraderie, courage, and a stiff drink built a legacy that endures to this day.
Joe and Rob share stories of Marine Corps history, the symbolism of Tun Tavern throughout the centuries, and the plans to rebuild the historic tavern near its original site. From battles fought abroad to the brotherhood forged at home, the conversation blends military heritage, personal memories, and a deep respect for those who’ve worn the Eagle, Globe, and Anchor.
So pour a pint, stand tall, and join two Marines as they honor the place where it all began — Tun Tavern, the birthplace of the United States Marine Corps.
Happy Birthday Marines, Semper Fidelis. 
10th November 1775
November 10th 1975 Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald


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⭐ Thank you for listening to Tales, Trails and Taverns, where we explore haunted history, dark trails, forgotten legends, and the mysteries hiding in your own backyard.
⭐ If you enjoyed this episode, please take a moment to rate and review the show—it helps more curious souls find us.
📲 Follow all our links—podcast platforms, books, website, social media, and more—right here:
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🕯️ Have a ghost story, creepy location, or strange encounter you'd like us to cover?
Email us or message us through Linktree—we’d love to hear from you. Until next time…
Keep exploring. Keep questioning. And as always—stay spooky.

In this eerie solo episode of Tales, Trails, and Taverns, Joe takes listeners deep into the shadowed halls of one of New England’s most legendary haunted destinations — The Omni Mount Washington Hotel in Bretton Woods, New Hampshire.
From its lavish beginnings in the early 1900s to the tragic tale of its original owners, Joe explores the hotel’s rich and sometimes chilling history. He tells the story of Caroline Stickney, the elegant widow whose spirit is said to linger in Room 314, forever watching the mountains from her rocking chair. The piano that plays without a pianist, the footsteps echoing down empty corridors, and the mysterious figure seen gazing from a sealed window — each story paints a picture of a place where luxury and the supernatural coexist.
Set against the backdrop of the majestic but unforgiving White Mountains, Joe also touches on the deeper legends tied to the land itself — ancient spiritual energy, restless spirits, and the whispers that echo long after the guests have checked out.
So settle in, pour yourself something strong, and join Joe as he opens the door to the haunted history of The Omni Mount Washington Hotel — a place where the past never truly lets go.
Keywords: haunted hotel, Omni Mount Washington, Bretton Woods, New Hampshire, ghost stories, paranormal, haunted history, New England folklore, Caroline Stickney, luxury hauntings, solo episode, spooky travel

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⭐ Thank you for listening to Tales, Trails and Taverns, where we explore haunted history, dark trails, forgotten legends, and the mysteries hiding in your own backyard.
⭐ If you enjoyed this episode, please take a moment to rate and review the show—it helps more curious souls find us.
📲 Follow all our links—podcast platforms, books, website, social media, and more—right here:
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🕯️ Have a ghost story, creepy location, or strange encounter you'd like us to cover?
Email us or message us through Linktree—we’d love to hear from you. Until next time…
Keep exploring. Keep questioning. And as always—stay spooky.

In the chilling conclusion to this two-part Tales, Trails, and Taverns special, Joe welcomes paranormal investigator and urban explorer Heather Lopez to discuss what unfolded during the investigation of his family’s 150-year-old Cape Cod homestead.
Heather shares her firsthand experiences inside the Baker house — the heavy, watchful energy that filled each room, and the unmistakable presence of Nellie Baker and other spirits who still linger within its walls.
With a deep respect for the home’s history, she recounts what she believes these spirits were trying to communicate — messages of loss, longing, and a desperate need to be remembered. Listeners will also get an inside look at the tools of the trade, as Heather explains the ghost-hunting equipment she used — from EMF detectors to spirit boxes and REM pods — and how each helped piece together the haunting puzzle of the Baker Homestead. Together, Joe and Heather explore what comes next in their search for Nellie Baker’s missing trunk, a long-lost family relic tied to the home’s most active spirit.
Could uncovering it finally bring peace to Nellie — and to the house itself? Step back inside the Baker Homestead, where history, heartbreak, and the paranormal intertwine — and where the story of Nellie Baker may finally be ready to reveal its final secret.

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⭐ Thank you for listening to Tales, Trails and Taverns, where we explore haunted history, dark trails, forgotten legends, and the mysteries hiding in your own backyard.
⭐ If you enjoyed this episode, please take a moment to rate and review the show—it helps more curious souls find us.
📲 Follow all our links—podcast platforms, books, website, social media, and more—right here:
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🕯️ Have a ghost story, creepy location, or strange encounter you'd like us to cover?
Email us or message us through Linktree—we’d love to hear from you. Until next time…
Keep exploring. Keep questioning. And as always—stay spooky.