Glowing plants and mushrooms are a staple of science fiction and fantasy environments, but did you know these fantastical elements are based on real organisms? This episode should be called glowing non-animal organisms but that doesn't really roll off the tongue. We discuss fungi, moss, algae and plants that glow, using bioluminescence and other unique mechanisms.

CW: Discussions of Religious persecution, and brief descriptions of torture, execution, and abduction. This episode also discusses an area that is currently experiencing violent political strife.

During the Spanish Inquisition, an era of intense persecution of the Jewish communities of Europe, one woman was able to provide shelter and escape to hundreds of Jewish people fleeing persecution. Her name was Doña Gracia Mendes Nasi. Using her vast fortune, intelligence and cunning, she was able to make her own escape, and then assist others in the Jewish community fleeing from the Inquisition.

Water demands respect - it's life-giving, but also extremely dangerous. It's no wonder that tales of dangerous water creatures exist in cultures all over the world and throughout time. One such creature is the Bunyip, whose origins lie with multiple ancient oral traditions of Australian First Peoples. In this episode, we'll discuss these origins, the way the bunyip changed with the arrival of Europeans and after, and the many sightings of this elusive creature.

CW: Discossions of death, crime scenes, and decompostion

Human Taphonomy Facilities, nicknamed Body Farms, are locations where donated human corpses are left to decay in order to study the process of decomposition. This research aids crime scene investigators and forensic anthropologists in determining cause and time of death, both of which can make or break a criminal case. Let's discuss how these facilities came to be and what goes on behind the razor wire fences.

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The Myrtles Plantation is known as the most haunted hotel in America, hosting a very prominent ghost of an enslaved woman named Chloe. Does the history hold any truth to the stories? Let's discuss!

CW: Enslavement, violence, racism and murder.

Mushrooms. So cute. So tasty. So very toxic.

Humans have loved and feared mushrooms since before written history. In this episode, Hallie discusses the tumultuous history of this relationship, and a few of the most deadly mushrooms in the world.

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Originally posted in Dec. 2022, lets dive back into Krampus.

Without much effort, the layers of the Christian holiday of Christmas can be peeled away to reveal its origins in more ancient pagan traditions from across Europe. One of the ancient folkloric characters that has managed to survive by tooth and claw is Krampus. Lets talk about Krampus, the Christmas demon.

The Nahanni region in Canada's Northwest Territories has a nickname - The Valley of Headless Men - because several decapitated bodies have been discovered over the years. Most of these were found during the goldrush and while some suggest foul play, there is also talk of strange beasts and spirits in the valley. Let's explore these legends.

Originally published for patrons on Jun 28, 2023.

Let's take a casual dip into the world of medical terminology: its history, how diseases are named, colloquial names and out of date terms for disease, and fancy words for mundane conditions.

Vampire folklore is ancient, but with the publishing of Bram Stoker's Dracula in 1897, that lore changed forever. The terrifying, grotesque creature became suave and charming, then continued to evolve into the seductive creature of the night we know today. In this episode we examine that transition, as well as the origin and evolution of Dracula's vampiric powers.