The Fantastic Story Society

What do Mothman sightings across the Midwest, haunted history, paranormal investigations, and one of Wisconsin's biggest paranormal events have in common?

Check out the Milwaukee ParaCon - https://milwaukeeparacon.com/ & the history of women in the paranormal - https://paranormalwomen.com/

In this episode of The Fantastic Story Society, Scott Markus and Max Timm sit down with paranormal researcher Allison Jornlin for a fascinating conversation about the strange stories hiding in plain sight across the Midwest.

Allison has extensively researched modern Mothman sightings, following reports of mysterious winged figures and exploring the history, eyewitness accounts, and unanswered questions surrounding one of America's most enduring paranormal legends.

But that's only part of the conversation.

Allison also gives us a preview of the upcoming Milwaukee Paranormal Conference, including the fascinating speakers, investigations, presentations, and other events attendees can look forward to. We talk about what makes the conference special and why events like this continue to bring together researchers, storytellers, investigators, and people fascinated by the unexplained.

And along the way, we explore Allison's broader work documenting strange stories and paranormal history, including her work with paranormal tours and her efforts to preserve and share the stories behind some of the most mysterious places she encounters.

From Mothman sightings to haunted Milwaukee, paranormal research to the stories we'll never be able to completely explain, this conversation has a little bit of everything.

Join Scott and Max for another journey into the unusual on The Fantastic Story Society, where the mystery isn't always about finding the answer. Sometimes, it's about discovering why the story was worth telling in the first place.

What's the scariest movie you've EVER seen? For this special LIVE edition of The Fantastic Story Society, co-hosts Scott Markus and Max Timm are counting down their personal Top 10 scariest horror movies of all time & we want YOU to be part of the conversation!

In association with the International Screenwriters' Association, we'll be diving into the movies that have genuinely frightened us, haunted our imaginations, and stuck with us long after the credits rolled.

But this isn't just a countdown. We're doing it LIVE, and we want to hear from you!

💀 What movie terrified you the most? 🎬 Which horror films belong on your Top 10? 👻 What makes a horror movie truly scary? 😱 Are jump scares enough, or is psychological terror more effective? 🎥 What can screenwriters and filmmakers learn from the horror movies that scare us the most?

Join us in the live chat and defend your favorites, argue with our choices, recommend movies we may have missed, and help us celebrate the strange and wonderful art of telling scary stories.

Whether you're a horror fan, filmmaker, screenwriter, or simply someone who loves a good scare, pull up a chair and join The Fantastic Story Society for a night of frightening movies, filmmaking discussion, and plenty of disagreement over what really belongs on the list!

Watch LIVE and join the conversation!

Presented in association with the International Screenwriters' Association.

#HorrorMovies #ScaryMovies #HorrorFilms #FantasticStorySociety #InternationalScreenwritersAssociation #Horror #Filmmaking #Screenwriting #GhostStories #ScariestMovies

What really happens when the sun goes down in Hawaii? Hawaiian historian and folklorist Lopaka Kapanui explores the legends, lore, and ghost stories of the islands, from Night Marchers and Menehune to haunted places and sacred sites.

It's Halloween season, and the Fantastic Story Society is diving deep into the world of horror with Dr. Patrick Gonder — retired professor, horror scholar, and lifelong student of the strange. Together, we discuss the remarkable new film Good Boy, a ghost story told entirely from the perspective of a dog. Patrick shares insights into how the film's unique storytelling perspective shifts horror conventions, why animals make such fascinating protagonists, and how camera work shapes audience emotion. The conversation also spans other standout horror films like Weapons, Longlegs, The Changeling, and Trick 'r Treat, plus personal ghost encounters and spine-tingling folklore from the Philippines. This episode is packed with movie talk, folklore, filmmaking lessons, and genuine chills — the perfect companion for spooky season.

We explore: 🐕 What happens when man's best friend becomes the witness to terror 🎞️ The challenges of storytelling through cinematography 💀 Why movies like Weapons, The Changeling, and Trick 'r Treat stay timeless 👻 Real-life ghost stories from Patrick's time living above a funeral home

0:00 – Intro: It's Horror Season at the Fantastic Story Society 2:00 – Introducing Horror Scholar Dr. Patrick Gonder 3:20 – Teaching the Art of Horror & Comic Books 5:20 – Trailer Reaction: Good Boy – A Ghost Story Told by a Dog 8:00 – The Dog's Perspective: Emotion, Loyalty & Limited Dialogue 11:00 – How They Made Good Boy (and Why You Shouldn't Watch the Featurette First) 15:00 – The Visual Language of Horror – Cinematography & Storytelling 17:00 – Recent Standout Horror Films: Weapons, Longlegs, Sinners 20:40 – What Makes a Horror Movie Great? Emotion, Relationships & Atmosphere 23:40 – Revisiting the "Is Silence of the Lambs Horror?" Debate 24:20 – Patrick's Annual Halloween Watchlist 27:00 – Filipino Horror, Monsters, and the Manananggal 31:00 – Zombie Fatigue and Fresh Scares (Last Train to Busan, Slither) 32:30 – Max's Writing & Filmmaking Retreats – Helping Writers Create 37:00 – True Ghost Stories: Dogs, Spirits & Strange House Energy 44:00 – Life Above a Funeral Home – Patrick's Exorcist Experience 48:00 – "The Dog Named No" – A Perfectly Creepy Story

Chad Lewis is a researcher, author, and lecturer on topics of the strange and unusual. His background is in the field of Psychology. He did his Bachelor and Master degree work in the field- but for nearly 30 years he's traveled the globe in search of unique and bizarre stories and history.

One of our co-hosts, Scott, was recently featured on the Tube documentary, Famously Haunted Hollywood. We go over the stories featured in the documentary: The Black Dahlia, The Manson Murders, Comedy Store, Peg Entwhistle, The Cecil Hotel.

Tony Szabelski is a flat-out Chicago ghost tour guru. He leads tours over 300 times a year throughout the city and surrounding suburbs. Perhaps his favorite area is Lincoln Park, essentially a forgotten cemetery, full of ghost stories. Take a tour at AmericanGhostWalks.com