"Even if you can't cook, you can make a Jell-O dessert!" Ads promoting Jell-O in the early 1900s gladly declared the gelatin treat to be easy and quick, a delight! But things got weird in the 1950s when the jiggly food started to be introduced with a more savory profile... Join us this episode to talk about the history of gelatin desserts, the flavors, the inclusions, and the all-important Weird Food Culture that surrounded Jell-O! CW: War, Poverty Music provided by Dark Fantasy Studios. [License]

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Some artists put a lot of themselves into their work, and some artists put way too much. We're not talking about the ones who pour their heart and soul into their work. We're talking about the ones who pour their various fluids into it. That's right, folks! We're heading back to our roots from episode one and talking body fluids, but this time, we're getting artsy. If you want to look at the art as we talk about it, head over to our resource page! CW: We're talking about all the fluids that come out of all the orifices.  Music provided by Dark Fantasy Studios. [License]

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Halloween is here once a year, but the dolls are here to stay. Dolls have captured the imagination when it comes to flights of fancy, and it's no different in the horror genre. Might be because some dolls are fucking freaky. Might be because they're possessed and freaky. Might be because whoever made them was absolutely out of their mind and decided that having a facsimile of a human being in utter stillness blink was a good idea. (It wasn't.) Join us as we walk down the path of both the most famous and lesser known real dolls in recent history.   And as a treat for Halloween, we're bringing a longer episode to you this week. We hope you laugh as hard as M does while you listen. Definitely go to the resource page of our website and look at the pictures of these dolls for the full experience.  CW: Child Death, Various Religions, Remy talks about his work with real dead bodies briefly, Dolls (of course) Music provided by Dark Fantasy Studios. [License]

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There's nothing so iconic around Halloween as the Jack o' Lantern. Big toothy pumpkin grins grace store windows and front porches all the same, and carving them is a fun family activity. So where did the jack o' lantern come from? Who the heck is Jack? And why do we carve out pumpkins? And how does racism fit into all of this? CW: Racism, Death Music provided by Dark Fantasy Studios. [License]

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The mystery that Virginians adore: CROATOA. A mysterious message. A disappeared colony. Lots of artifacts and evidence saying that perhaps, just maybe, the dying settlement was less dying so much as... adapted. Depending on your definition of adapted, though... it could be anything. After all, denial is a powerful drug. CW: Cannibalism, Murder Music provided by Dark Fantasy Studios. [License]

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"As you can see, Mr. President: I have nothing to hide." On this spooky feature, join us as presidents haunt the halls of their former residence. The White House, historic and old as balls, is ripe for the spirits of the dead to infest, and the deceased certainly seem to agree. If ghosts aren't enough to get you going, of course, consider that there may be a larger-than-life demon cat coming your way... This week, listeners, we're having a very laid back, fun episode where we let you listen to all the silly tangents the topic gets us off on. Just a light bit of laughter after some heavier episodes the last few weeks.  CW: Ghosts, Death/Child Death (briefly), Alcohol, The Deep Ocean (briefly) Music provided by Dark Fantasy Studios. [License]

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Have you ever felt a brush against your back but no one was there? Felt eyes on you but you know you’re alone? Perhaps you aren’t as alone as you thought. And perhaps that presence has more on its mind than typical hauntings. Maybe it even possesses the psychic you sought out for answers? Or maybe it’s just the Psychic Mafia. CW: Sex, Ghosts, Death, Manipulation Music provided by Dark Fantasy Studios. [License]

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There’s a history of marriage that goes beyond the living. After all... ghosts can get married too! Inter-mortal marriages, post-mortem marriages, pre-mortem marriages— ghosts and spirits have been getting married for a long time. Marriage is a human ritual that some even deem necessary for a peaceful afterlife. Jump in and learn how ghosts find love and partnership with us! And you've had a few weeks of particularly long episodes with us, so enjoy a short one this week.  CW: Death, Ghosts and Dead Bodies, Abortion (I believe maybe just 2 lines), Some talk surrounding disrespect for the dead Music provided by Dark Fantasy Studios. [License]

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Have you ever wanted to traumatize yourself on purpose? Well, good news, because you can PAY MONEY (or dog food??) to be traumatized by people who build their own haunted house attractions! We're not talking about peeled grapes and fake blood at all. These are experiences that will absolutely maim your brain. So obviously... we point out the strangest ones out there. And at the end, we'll give you a pleasant bit of off topic aftercare after the intensity of the topic. For content warnings this week, I'm giving you two different sets, as our talk of extreme haunts take two tones. This is our most extreme episode, so take care of yourselves, listeners.  CW (first half): Being Restrained, Simulated Waterboarding, Simulated Sexual Violence, Guns, Simulated Gun Violence CW (second half): Real Violence, Teeth Trauma, Finger Trauma, Blood, Burial, Sexual Assault, Drowning, Body Fluids, Insects Music provided by Dark Fantasy Studios. [License]

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It's More Likely Than You Think! Ever wanted to venture into the dark, the disturbed, and the utterly goth? Well, guess what, that school trip your school took to the local battlegrounds is exactly that! In this episode we delve into what is dark tourism, and how 'dark' does something have to be to earn the title. Not only that, but there's some do's, don't's, and why-the-HELL-would-you-do-that's advice when walking into the mouth of hell. Or, you know, the monument down the road. For this episode, we got really into the discussion, so you're getting an extra long episode this week! CW: Holocaust, Death, War, this episode generally contains many forms of grimness  Music provided by Dark Fantasy Studios. [License]

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