The clock’s winding down on the final moments of the year and people around the world are putting their charms and traditions to work, shoring up good fortune for the future. But it’s not always our own personal luck that’s on the line… In this story, a night of superstitions weaves together the fates of merrymakers eager for fresh starts. 

This episode is presented by Superstitions, a Spotify Original from Parcast. Follow Superstitions free on Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts.

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The tragedy — and the mystery — led people to look for answers anywhere they could: George Sodder’s shaded past in Italy, child trafficking trends, and even spontaneous human combustion. But the real explanation for the children’s disappearance might have to do with the house itself.

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In the aftermath of the fire, a startling number of tips, twists, and witnesses came forward regarding the fate of the Sodder children. Their father, George, followed the clues for decades, driven by a suspicion of the “official” story and a belief that the blaze was no accident.

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Early Christmas day in 1945, Jennie Sodder woke up to her house on fire. The blaze consumed her home, and five of her children. Or did it? A series of strange events before, during and after the incident leave room for more nefarious — though no less tragic — possibilities.

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More than 70 years after the so-called Mad Gasser struck, historians are no closer to identifying a culprit. Some even propose that the victims imagined the attacks. But a pattern of similar gassings suggest the perpetrator might have been active for decades.

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In the summer of 1944, the citizens of Mattoon, Illinois suffered a series of baffling attacks that left them nauseated and temporarily paralyzed. 

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Over the past decade, thousands of people have realized their memories don't quite match history. Though these false recollections are usually insignificant, perhaps they point to someone making changes to space, time, or even the fabric of our reality…

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In 2009, paranormal investigator Fiona Broome realized something odd: She had a memory of watching Nelson Mandela's funeral in the 1980s. The only problem? He was still alive.

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You know you can find love in a bar… on an app… Why not a podcast? Every week on Blind Dating, one hopeful single is introduced to two potential matches in a virtual hangout — no cameras allowed. This week, listen in as Pauler, a 33-year-old dancer from Australia, meets a tutor who falls for mama’s boys and a one-time swinger who’s “lived and learned” in LA. Is personality enough to spark a lasting connection? Listen to find out… and don’t miss the twist at the end! Blind Dating is free on Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts.

Geoscientist Andrés Ruzo traveled to the legendary Boiling River in 2011, determined to find the source of its incredible heat. His first theory: a massive underground volcano. 

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