This week on Wyrd Wessex, we're diving headfirst into the world of pranks, hoaxes, and mythical mischief-makers. Join hosts Craig and Andy as they explore the strange, the unbelievable, and the surprisingly true history behind deception.

We start by tracing the murky origins of April Fool's Day, from ancient whispers to the confusion of the Gregorian calendar change. We'll delve into the golden age of hoaxes, uncovering how historical figures like Edgar Allan Poe and Jonathan Swift used elaborate deception as a form of art.

We'll then fast-forward to the 20th and 21st centuries to marvel at some of the most famous media hoaxes, from the BBC's Swiss spaghetti harvest to Google's legendary April Fool's Day pranks. We’ll also examine the fine line between a harmless prank and a dangerous deception.

Finally, we'll shift our focus to the weirdest tricksters in folklore, from the chaotic and unpredictable Loki to the cunning and resilient Anansi the Spider. We'll even explore the role of the Devil in English folklore as a surprisingly inept trickster.

And for the big reveal: We confess that one of the stories in this very episode was a complete hoax, written by an AI to trick Andy! Can you guess which one it was?

Stay Wyrd!

www.wyrdwessex.co.uk

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Written by Craig Brooks and hosted by Craig Brooks and Andy Stevens

Edited by Craig Brooks

Intro music by Leonell Cassio - The Paranormal Is Real (ft. Carrie)

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Welcome back to the show, Wyrdo's! We're talking about one of the most compelling online hauntings of the digital age: the terrifying saga of "Dear David." Join us as we explore the story of web cartoonist Adam Ellis and his documented encounters with a malevolent child ghost that began in 2017 and captivated millions.

In this episode, we talk about:

• The First Encounter: Adam's initial terrifying experience with a ghostly child figure with a dented head, sitting in a green rocking chair in his apartment.
• The Rules of the Game: A mysterious dream that reveals the rules for speaking to "Dear David"—ask only two questions or risk death.
• The Break in Protocol: Adam's terrifying dream where he breaks the rules by asking a third question, leading to a feeling of overwhelming dread and paralysis.
• The Cats' Warning: The strange, unsettling behavior of Adam's cats, which seem to be aware of a presence at his front door, leading him to take a series of eerie photos through his peephole.
• A New Apartment, a New Haunting: Adam's move to a new apartment in the same building, and the terrifying realization that Dear David may have followed him.
• The App that Catches Ghosts: Adam's use of a sleep talk app, which records bizarre sounds in the night, including snapping, shuffling, and what sounds like a chilling groan.
• The Bruise and the Warehouse: A dream in which the ghost drags Adam to an old warehouse, leading to the discovery of a large bruise on his arm and a chilling real-world find.
• Chilling New Developments: Adam's phone begins to receive mysterious calls, and a pet camera captures something truly unsettling happening with his rocking chair.
• The Evidence: The horrifying photo evidence from Adam's phone, showing the ghostly figure appearing and disappearing in his apartment, getting progressively closer to him as he slept.
• The Ghost Follows: The terrifying realization that Dear David may have followed Adam to his hometown in Montana, leaving behind small, child-like footprints in the snow.
• The Final Terrors: The end of the thread, with a final photo of the figure seemingly hovering over Adam's sleeping body, and the subsequent mystery of a "glitched" photo that appears on his Instagram.
• Weird News:
• A woman who was mistakenly declared dead by the government, leading to bureaucratic nightmares and canceled health insurance.
• A conspiracy theory that the "Gifted and Talented" education programs of the 1980s were actually a covert CIA training program, complete with code-breaking, sign language, and Russian lessons.

Stay Wyrd!

www.wyrdwessex.co.uk

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Written by Craig Brooks and hosted by Craig Brooks and Andy Stevens

Edited by Craig Brooks

Intro music by Leonell Cassio - The Paranormal Is Real (ft. Carrie)

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Join us for a final journey through the heart of Salisbury, where history and legend are often one and the same. From the windswept ramparts of Old Sarum to the hallowed halls of its magnificent cathedral, we peel back the layers of this ancient city to reveal its strange and haunting past. We delve into a macabre pub legend, explore the mysterious death of an Earl, and confront a chilling, unsolved Edwardian murder mystery. And for our weird news segment, we go beyond Wiltshire to discuss a California bill to make Bigfoot a state cryptid and an ancient prophecy that may foretell the end of the world.

In this episode, we cover:

• The incredible history of Old Sarum, from a prehistoric fortress to a Norman castle, and the legendary arrow that supposedly determined the site of the new cathedral.
• The notorious legend of the "Hand in the Wall" at the Haunter Venison pub, a macabre tale of a cheating gambler and a mummified discovery.
• The fascinating and bloody history of Salisbury Cathedral, including its unusual construction, the world’s oldest working clock, and its copy of the Magna Carta.
• The mysterious death of William Longsby and the bizarre legend of the mummified rat found inside his tomb, which lent weight to rumors of arsenic poisoning.
• A cryptid story close to home, the Salisbury-based Catgarookey.
• The unsettling, unsolved murder of Teddy Haskell, an 11-year-old boy in 1908. We detail the gruesome discovery, the police investigation led by Chief Inspector Walter Dew, and the dramatic, two-part trial of his mother, Flora Haskell.
• Wyrd News: We discuss a California bill to make Bigfoot the official state cryptid and hear from a Bigfoot Museum volunteer. We also talk about a 900-year-old prophecy by Saint Malachy that names the last pope before a final tribulation and the destruction of Rome.

Stay Wyrd!

www.wyrdwessex.co.uk

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Written and hosted by Craig Brooks and Andy Stevens

Edited by Craig Brooks

Intro music by Leonell Cassio - The Paranormal Is Real (ft. Carrie)

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Welcome back to AfterWyrd, the bonus podcast where we dive into the weird stories and conversations that don't make it into the main show. This week, we're talking about everything from the dark side of "wyrd" news to the secrets of the Vatican.

In this episode, we discuss:

• Weird News: Why a story about a severed hand found on school grounds was just too strange to cover, and the legend of the Vatican chronovisor, a supposed time machine that can view the past.
• A Hauntingly Awkward Trip: Recapping our recent visit to Salisbury, a city known for its ghosts and uncomfortable restaurant moments.
• Film Review: A discussion on the 2009 film The Fourth Kind and why it's a genuinely creepy horror film.
• The Uncanny Group Debate: What happened when one of the hosts asked a simple question about Ouija boards on a Facebook group and got a ton of parenting advice instead.

"Don't blame the owls."

www.wyrdwessex.co.uk

Buy our merch here

Hosted by Craig Brooks & Andy Stevens

Edited by Craig Brooks

Intro music by Exceptional_3D - Unexplained mystery intro/outro

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This is an early release of an interview that will be part of a future episode as part of the Wyrd News segment.

Craig talks with Eric Nelson from the world-famous Willow Creek Bigfoot Museum about a truly bizarre story out of California: a proposed bill that would officially recognise Bigfoot as the state's cryptid! Craig talks with Eric about the implications of this wild move.

They discuss the history of Bigfoot sightings in California, the potential impact on tourism and research, and the surprising amount of scientific interest in the subject, including a DNA project at North Carolina State University. Plus, they touch on the cultural significance of Bigfoot and the ongoing quest for evidence. Join them for a fascinating look at this legendary creature and the latest developments in the world of cryptozoology.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Join us for a fantastic conversation with our guest, the multi-talented Mark Ryan. Known for his work in Robin of Sherwood and the Transformers franchise, Mark is also a co-creator of the Wildwood Tarot. We delve into the deck's unique origins, Mark’s fascinating personal journey, and how the mysticism of the British Isles continues to inspire us today.

In this episode, we cover:

• Mark's background growing up playing in Sherwood Forest and how it shaped his understanding of the "other world."
• The story of his role as Nasir in Robin of Sherwood and the lasting bonds of the cast.
• The creation of the Wildwood Tarot and its unique system rooted in the Wheel of the Year, British folklore, and empowering the feminine.
• The widespread problem with counterfeit decks and Mark’s plan to relaunch the original Greenwood Tarot to combat piracy.
• Mark’s philosophy that tarot is a tool for self-reflection and clarity, not a means of telling a concrete future.
• Fascinating anecdotes, including a baffling tarot reading at Robin Gibb’s house and the miraculous return of a lost ring in the Brecon Beacons.
• Mark’s strong personal connection to "The Journey" card, inspired by an out-of-body experience.
• The bizarre story of the "White Bear" card, which was initially deemed historically inaccurate but later proven by science.
• A conversation about psychic and magical warfare used by the SOE during World War II and its connection to the paranormal.
• Mark's insights into current events, including the credibility of UAP/UFO whistleblowers and the existence of highly advanced, classified aircraft.
• His "Florida Man" story and the upcoming re-release of the Greenwood Tarot via Kickstarter.

Stay Wyrd!

www.wyrdwessex.co.uk

Buy our merch here

Written and hosted by Craig Brooks and Andy Stevens

Edited by Craig Brooks

Intro music by Leonell Cassio - The Paranormal Is Real (ft. Carrie)

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Welcome back to the podcast. Today, ahead of our interview with Mark Ryan about the Wildwood Tarot, we’re delving into the fascinating and sometimes mysterious history of these cards. We'll explore how they evolved from a simple game to a powerful tool for divination and self-discovery, and then we'll try our hand at a live reading!

In this episode, we cover:

• The origins of Tarot in the 15th-century Italian card game, Triomphi, and how the Major and Minor Arcanacame to be.
• The surprising transformation from a game to a tool for divination, a shift influenced by the 18th-century rise of occultism in France and figures like Etteilla.
• How secret societies like the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn shaped our modern understanding of the cards.
• The creation of the iconic Rider-Waite-Smith deck and its massive influence on tarot today.
• Tarot's use beyond divination for self-reflection, creative pursuits, and even storytelling.
• Why tarot is not feared in the same way as Ouija boards, which we chalk up to Hollywood.
• A live, on-air three-card tarot reading using the Wildwood Tarot.
• Wyrd News about mysterious QR codes on graves in Munich and the surprising smell of ancient Egyptian mummies.

Stay Wyrd!

www.wyrdwessex.co.uk

Buy our merch here

Written by Craig Brooks and hosted by Craig Brooks and Andy Stevens

Edited by Craig Brooks

Intro music by Leonell Cassio - The Paranormal Is Real (ft. Carrie)

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

For Valentine's Day, we bring you a story of roses, romance, and a shocking true crime mystery. This week, we delve into the macabre tale of Charles Walton, a 74-year-old widower who was brutally murdered on Valentine’s Day, 1945. What followed was a police investigation with a bizarre twist that intertwined true crime with tales of witchcraft, ancient rituals, and supernatural folklore.

In this episode, we cover:

• The gruesome details of Charles Walton's murder and the police's fruitless search for clues.
• The peculiar behavior of prime suspect Alfred Potter and a crucial missing watch.
• The unsettling local rumors that Charles Walton was a witch whose powers were feared by the villagers.
• The eerie connection to a man who died in the same field 60 years earlier and another similar murder case involving a pitchfork.
• The baffling appearance of spectral black dogs and the unsettling legend of the headless lady.
• The possible links to ancient folklore sites like the Rollright Stones and the Mayon Hill barrow.
• A brief mention of the chilling and related Hagley Wood mystery.
• The theory that the case served as a direct inspiration for the classic horror film, The Wicker Man.

Stay Wyrd!

www.wyrdwessex.co.uk

Buy our merch here

Written by Craig Brooks and hosted by Craig Brooks and Andy Stevens

Edited by Craig Brooks

Intro music by Leonell Cassio - The Paranormal Is Real (ft. Carrie)

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Welcome back to AfterWyrd, the bonus podcast where we dive into the weird stories and conversations that don't make it into the main show. This week, we're talking about everything from cursed books to the secrets of the Vatican.

In this episode, we discuss:

• Neil Gaiman: A difficult discussion about separating the art from the artist following recent controversies.
• A Personal Growl: An on-the-spot report of a strange, unexplained noise while working in a seemingly empty house.
• New UFO Footage: We break down a newly released video from a veteran claiming to have recovered a UAP and another clip from a prominent UFO journalist about a potential government "lie."
• Rabbit Holes: A conversation about the dangers of going too deep into one subject and the importance of covering a wide range of topics.

"Don't blame the owls."

www.wyrdwessex.co.uk

Buy our merch here

Hosted by Craig Brooks & Andy Stevens

Edited by Craig Brooks

Intro music by Exceptional_3D - Unexplained mystery intro/outro

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Welcome to another deep dive into the wyrd. This week, we're heading to the Bannau Brycheiniog National Park in Wales to investigate Heol Fanog, a remote farmhouse also known as Hellfire Farm. In 1989, Bill and Liz Rich moved in, hoping for a fresh start, but what they found was a nightmare of paranormal activity that became so famous it was branded the Welsh Amityville.

In this episode, we cover:

• A Haunting Connection: The strange experience the Rich family had inside the Cheops pyramid in Egypt, which they believe was the starting point of their problems.
• The Number of the Beast: The alarming occurrences of the number "666" appearing on receipts and a car registration plate.
• Physical Phenomena: The chilling sounds of stomping "hobnail boots" and shuffling slippers, a sulphurous stench, fluctuating temperatures, and the mystery of exorbitant energy bills.
• A Family Under Siege: The psychological and financial toll on the family, including the tragic deaths of their animals and the disturbing personality changes in their teenage son, Lawrence.
• A Dark Omen: The mysterious death of a neighbor's horse, whose leg issue mirrored a problem in a painting Bill was commissioned to do.
• A Spiritual War: The terrifying spiritual battles with the "experts," including a seven-foot black figure, a wall of fire, and a final, shocking exorcism that ends with an "inhuman" voice.
• The Tragic End: The heartbreaking conclusion to the story, including the family's divorce, Bill's alcoholism, and the ultimate passing of both him and the haunting.
• A Skeptical Look Back: A discussion on the psychological toll of stress and isolation, and the possibility that the haunting was a manifestation of the family's mental health issues.
• Wyrd News: A look at bizarre news from Barry from EastEnders, who was pushed down the stairs by a ghost, and the truly unsettling story of toddlers who played with and possibly ate their grandfather's ashes.

Stay Wyrd!

www.wyrdwessex.co.uk

Buy our merch here

Written by Craig Brooks and hosted by Craig Brooks and Andy Stevens

Edited by Craig Brooks

Intro music by Leonell Cassio - The Paranormal Is Real (ft. Carrie)

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.