The AP Strange Show

This week, Ali Baughman joins AP for a discussion about and celebration of The Rocky Horror Picture Show! Ali is a self described theater nerd, being an educator and director in theater as well as an actor, writer, and podcast producer. She is currently playing the role of Dr. Frank-N-Furter in a shadow cast of Rocky Horror in her hometown of Hagerstown, MD, and in conversation she discusses the cult legacy of Rocky Horror as well as that of the original Frankie, Tim Curry. She gets into her own history with the musical, as well as with acting generally, framing Rocky Horror as an initiation of sorts for theater kids- leading to broader discussions about the various ways people have become attached to the film, and the phenomenon of audience participation that has developed over the decades since its release.

Also discussed are some of the inspirations that went into the writing, filming, and character development of the original story which allows for a chat about cult movies, B-movies, and science fiction / horror cinema more broadly. AP and Ali also talk about her podcast The Vampire Talk Show, currently on indefinite hiatus, in which she plays the role of Val the Vampire- which once featured a certain AP Strange Show host as a guest clown- leading to a very fun conversation about Ali and AP's shared affection for weird monster movies and the creativity that goes into making various forms of media. If all that's not enough for you, Ali shares experiences with various ghosts she's encountered in her theater career- including some that seem to look out for her interests when she's directing a production!

Ali was a terrific guest, and the perfect person to talk RHPS with this spooky season. To find out more about the theater work she does with the Potomac Playmakers, check it out here: https://www.potomacplaymakers.org/

This week, Joseph L. Flatley returns to the show for a wide-ranging discussion touching on themes of magick, psychology, and subjective synthesis and how these threads weave through his recent works- including his latest book, The Occult Timothy Leary: The Tarot, Magical States, and Post-Terrestrial Evolution and his podcast series The Inner Empire. Flatley was last on the show in June of 2026 to discuss his book about Gabriel of Urantia, New Age Grifter, and in conversation this time around expand on some of the themes from that episode- and more! They discuss various forms of channeling, ideas about extraterrestrial intelligences and Leary's eight-circuit model, the legacy of Western magical organizations such as the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn, and the role of technology in our societal evolution.

The conversation also gets into varied opinions about Leary and his legacy, and the wildly divergent points of view that inform public memory of him. There are plenty of avenues here to discuss the history of eccentric or controversial ideas, and this episode runs the gamut- and provides a nuanced look at where we are now, and where we might be headed as a species. 

Check out Flatley's new book here: https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/The-Occult-Timothy-Leary/Joseph-L-Flatley/9798888500842
...and check out the Inner Empire, whereever you find podcasts!

On this week's show, back by popular demand, the one-and-only Tim Binnall joins AP to recount various adventures (and possible misadventures) from this past summer. Tim presented at two different conferences in two weeks- the Cryptids in the Mountains conference in Chester, VT, and at the Exeter UFO Festival in New Hampshire- and in conversation here he talks about the subjects he covered, the people he met, and the overall experience of seeking out weird venues like these. He and AP get into the nitty gritty of his Vermont presentation, which focused on the case of the Dover Demon, a mysterious creature seen in Massachusetts by multiple witnesses in the 1970s. He also talks about his history with the Exeter UFO Conference, how it has grown over time, and the sense of community which has informed the very popular regional event. 

That's not all though! Tim's adventures also took him to Wisconsin, where he checked out some weird museums covering everything from circus history to architecture and even mustard! Tim's travels and experiences show that there is no shortage of weirdness out there to discover and engage with, and gives advice and encouragement to listeners to find adventures for themselves.

Tim's podcast, Binnall of America: The Revival, is currently on a brief break but will return soon- if you're not already, go and subscribe!

With the arrival of spooky season, AP welcomes to the show "Mr. Halloween" himself, New England's own original hauntropreneur David Bertolino to look back on his groundbreaking horror theme park Spooky World and its legacy. His new book, Behind the Screams at Spooky World: The Secrets, Scares, and Stars of America's Original Horror Theme Park, covers the first 12 years of turning a small farmhouse plot into a cultural mecca. With plenty of great photos and introductory words from Linda Blair and Alice Cooper, the book reveals a wild history of chance-taking, controlled chaos, and spooktacular fun!
In conversation David explains his early inspirations for the park, and the evolution of what started as a haunted hayride- from his early fascinations with horror in the form of Vincent Price movies and the costumes in his family's magic and joke shop to working with Hollywood effects legend Tom Savini and building an at-the-time unheard of sensory experience of Halloween thrills. The novelty of the park would go on to inspire other locales, and its legacy can be felt to this day in the form of other such attractions and horror conventions- and as it happens, David will be doing a panel at the Silver Scream Con in Worcester, MA, on October 2nd along with Linda Blair to promote the book!
The story of Spooky World is a fun one, and well worth considering, populated with characters such as Tiny Tim, Robert Englund, the Mouse Girl, psychotic clowns, football players, and more! David is quite the storyteller, and a perfect guest to bring the Halloween fun to the show!

Check out David's book here: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1577159179?lv=shuf&channelId=500&plpRedirect=mhFallback
...and find the documentary about Spooky World, Spooktacular!, on streaming services such as Tubi, Amazon Prime, or Shudder!

This week's show is a celebration of Edgar Allan Poe with journalist, poet, and events producer Meg Smith! Meg is one of the organizers behind the Poe in Lowell Festival, an annual event entering its third year in her hometown of Lowell, MA. In conversation, she explains Poe's connections to the city, the people he interacted with, and influence throughout the region. Of course, there's plenty to talk about with Poe, from his beginnings in Boston to his death in Baltimore- and the spectral imprint he left on all the places in between! Meg also discusses the strange correlations between Poe and Lowell's own Jack Kerouac, whose festival occurs in the week's leading up to Poe's in the city. In exploring local literary history, Meg and AP dig into the almost mythic presence such well-known writers occupy in the public imagination- and how locales frequented by them retain some of their spirit.

If that's not enough, they also get into Poe's influence on H. P. Lovecraft and the Providence festival that celebrates him, Meg shares stories from working at Spooky World in the 90s, and she talks about her upcoming Martian New Year's party in Worcester! The conversation covers a lot of ground, from the gothic to the beat generation and onward into space- and Meg had so many great insights to share!

Check out Meg's work at http://megsmithwriter.com/ , find her on instagram at @megsmithwriter , and follow along with her journalism at https://www.worcestermag.com/

This week, Jo Hickey-Hall joins AP to discuss all things fairy and much more! Jo is a folklore researcher, and has long hosted The Modern Fairy Sightings Podcast- a show where she invites guests to share their experiences with the otherworldly. In conversation, she and AP discuss some of her investigations, her personal encounters, and thoughts about public perceptions about fairies and those who report seeing them. They talk about nature, and the connection of places to the more ethereal entities which inhabit them- and the spiritual or emotional energies which drive such encounters. 

Jo's years worth of work researching and exploring the fairy realm have also culminated in a book called Modern Fairy Sightings: Personal Encounters in Extraordinary Times, which will release in November of 2026. They discuss the upcoming book, (which sounds like a great Christmas gift for the discerning Fortean in your life!), as well as the rapidly changing and often terrifying mundane world we inhabit- and what that means for the more ethereal planes of reality. Jo's insights and knowledge leave listeners with a lot to think about!

If you haven't already, be sure to check out The Modern Fairy Sightings Podcast wherever you find your shows- and keep your eyes peeled for Jo's book when it releases! 

This week, author, journalist, playwright, and editor Dona Masi joins AP for a discussion about alien abductions and her novel inspired by them, The Taking. Her book is a coming of age story for a young girl named Vera, who must navigate the normal trials of growing up alongside troublesome dreams and strange experiences she can't explain- or even tell anyone about. The story is a heartfelt and sympathetic tale which speaks to the isolation of experiencers, and as the story unfolds one gets a sense of the private struggles abductees might deal with. In conversation, she and AP discuss the book and some of the real-life accounts that inspired it- notably, the Betty and Barney Hill Incident which occurred in Dona's home state of New Hampshire, the accounts of Whitley Strieber, and others.

Dona also relates some of her own personal experiences, as well as her inspirations and philosophies regarding how she writes fiction. Throughout the interview, she and AP explore the various ways storytelling impacts us all, notable UFO events and how they are studied, and much more!

For more on Dona and her work, and to order your own copy of The Taking, click here: https://donamasi.com/

This week, we're celebrating 100 episodes of The AP Strange Show with questions from YOU, the listener! In anticipation of the milestone, AP put out a call on social media for questions to be answered in an "AMA" format, and listeners did not disappoint- several people sent really thoughtful, great questions (as well as a few absurd and fun ones) for AP to answer. 

It is hoped that the listener will find this episode fun and enlightening, as it deviates a bit from the usual format with guests or pre-prepared bonus material. Questions from listeners led to a lot of strange and disparate areas of the Weird, from time travel to mystical concepts, to personal stories and poltergeists- and gave AP a chance to cut loose and get a little philosophical about things. Of course there's some humor and perhaps a few goofy voices and corny jokes, which is hard to avoid when you are AP Strange. 

Enjoy the show, and here's looking forward to 100 more episodes! Harrumph! 

This week's show is a celebration of Stanley Kubrick, with filmmaker, teacher, and student of the weird Chris Ernst dropping in to discuss the legendary movie director with AP, and ther was a lot to talk about! From an in-depth discussion of Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb to overall influence of Kubrick's oeuvre, they get into the nitty-gritty about his methods, subjects, and style. They discuss major themes that run throughout Kubrick's work, as well as some of the more esoteric aspects of his framing of shots and visual rhyming which act as a through line in his corpus of films.

They also talk about the mystique around the iconic director, and the attendant conspiracy theories and synchromystical interpretations such as whether he helped to fake the moon landing. Further, they get into associated films such as Room 237, and how art- whatever the medium- inspires all manner of different interpretations. It's a fascinating deep dive into the man and his movies, yet still barely scratches the surface of one of the 20th century's greatest auteurs. 

Chris is a semi-regular co-host on Where Did the Road Go?, and you can find him there- also, be sure to check out the film he co-directed with prior guest Bill Darmon, The Hill and the Hole, distributed by Troma.

This week, paranormal tour guide, researcher, and investigator Kjersti Beth joins AP for a very fun and wide-ranging discussion about hauntings and associated weirdness. Kjersti presented ideas about the Stone Tape Theory at the 2023 Paranormal Research Symposium, the paper for which appears in their published journal- and in conversation she gets into various ideas about ghosts and ghostly phenomena, based on both research and her personal experiences. She and AP get into ideas about residual hauntings, the role of animals in paranormal experiences, and much more!

In her hometown of Madison, WI, Kjersti leads tours for Mad City Ghost Walks, and talks about some of her tour locations and what it's like to show people around and hear their stories. She gets into some of her inspirations and varied other interests, culminating in her current adventures- including camping out on Bray Road, home of the Beast! Kjersti brings an open mind and a lot of fun energy to these topics, making this conversation well worth a listen!

Follow Kjersti on Instagram at @kjee83 , and check out Mad City Ghost Walks here: https://www.madcityghostwalks.com/

The Journal of Presentations from the Paranormal Research Symposium can be found on Amazon, where you can read Kjersti's paper- and AP's as well!