Conjuring Curiosities

Grab your ouija board and broomstick (and also some cheesecloth) and join us as we discuss the bewitching tale of Scotland’s last witch! Hear about the spellbinding events that led to Helen Duncan’s infamous trial in the 1940s. And yes, you read that right. Witch trials in the 20th century! Turns out, there was a medium whose séances attracted the ire of the British government. Was she really summ...

Clara tells Sabrina about a terrible pair of Williams, who decided that robbing graves was just too much work, and opted to end their victims lives before they entered the ground in the first place. Wanting to keep those medical schools stocked with fresh cadavers, but most importantly keep their pockets stuffed with cash, Burke and Hare fast-tracked their supply by offing people themselves. So gr...

In our most morbid episode yet, we step into the eerie shadows of Victorian graveyards, where the dead couldn’t always rest in peace. Clara tells Sabrina about the grim and ghastly practice of body snatching, an illicit trade that supplied fresh corpses to the booming field of medical science. So if you’re steadfast enough (and not eating lunch), grab a shovel and a lantern, and meet us in the cem...

In this episode, Clara takes Sabrina on a hometown history fieldtrip, and calls on the past to talk about the notorious AGB (Alexander Graham Bell). From beginnings in Scotland making talking machines for his elocutionist Father, to believing telegraph lines could send so much more than morse code, Alec was truly ahead of his time. So grab your landlines and dial in to find out how we almost said...

This week, we find out why some ideas are better left on the drawing board. Thomas Edison, the inventor behind the light bulb and phonograph, thought it would be a great idea to make dolls talk. Spoiler alert: it wasn’t. What was supposed to be a groundbreaking toy turned into a nightmare, with dolls spewing scratchy, eerie nursery rhymes that left children and parents terrified. And you know if i...

Get ready to sink your teeth into a bizarre and blood curdling story, because this week we’re discussing the New England Vampire Panic! A time when fear, superstition, and a dash of hysteria convinced a rural community in Rhode Island that the dead were rising from their graves to prey on the living. Clara tells Sabrina about Mercy Brown, the so-called "last American vampire," whose exhumation in...

Consumption wasn't just a disease - it was a lifestyle. Afflicting millions with its debilitating symptoms, consumption became synonymous with romance and tragedy in the popular imagination. Join Clara and Sabrina as they explore the morbid fascination with illness, and the macabre allure of looking sickly and dying. So grab your handkerchiefs to cough dramatically into, and prepare to confront th...

Grab your largest hats and your pointiest umbrellas, this episode we’re exploring the badass world of hatpin and umbrella self-defense! The long forgotten hatpin wasn't just for securing hats; it was also the secret weapon of Victorian ladies looking to jab back at the patriarchy. Women also took chaperoning into their own hands with their trusty parasols, ready to rain down justice on anyone fool...

Be warned, fair listeners, this episode gets a bit raunchier than usual! Clara tells Sabrina about the Shakespearian fashion trend that she has become very well acquainted with as of late, codpieces! The Elizabethan gentleman's particular protrusion that showed off his...virility. During the peak of Shakespeares popularity, men decided that actual size doesn't have to matter if you choose to purpo...

We’re stepping through the looking glass this week to learn why exactly Victorian hatters happened to be so mad! In the heyday of hatmaking, mercury played a starring role in the production of felt hats, including the iconic top hats favoured by Victorian gentlemen. But behind the glamour and sophistication lay a hidden danger - mercury poisoning. From trembling hands to erratic behavior, the symp...

Get ready to feel some serious goosebumps, because today, Sabrina shows us why she calls herself a modern day witch! This episode is filled with clairvoyance, and not just because the topic is tarot. We’ll discuss the origins of the popular divination tool, as well as the uncredited talents that shaped its iconic imagery. As we navigate the twists and turns of tarot's tangled history, prepare to b...

In our thirteenth episode, we cover the topical thirteen of course! Get your good luck charms ready, because in this episode, we're diving headfirst into the murky waters of superstition. Plenty of catastrophes have happened on Friday the 13th, but is it really an unlucky day? Thankfully, the members of the Thirteen Club are on the case, and they don’t care how many mirrors they have to smash to p...

This may be the only time we can say that our topic is more deadly for one of us than for the Victorians…because we’re crunching into the bizarre world of Victorian celery mania. Yes, you heard that right - celery. The Victorians couldn’t eat enough, but Sabrina will be grabbing her epi pen for this one. Tune in to learn all about the coveted Victorian vegetable, and its even more coveted vase! Se...

Grab your parkas and your tainted canned meat, this episode Clara and Sabrina are voyaging into the Arctic abyss! We’re hopping aboard Sir John Franklin’s doomed expedition through the Northwest Passage. When the ships got hopelessly stuck in the ice, everyone aboard was slowly overcome by bone-chilling cold, hunger, and desperation. We’ll discuss theories on why the crew made so many bizarre deci...

Get your sea legs ready, we’re sailing through a convoluted mess of trade routes and accidental discoveries! In this episode, Clara tells Sabrina about the Europeans' ravenous thirst for spices they mostly no longer use in modern day, and all the inefficient things they did to make the trip to Asia more efficient. Also, we break the news to Christopher Columbus that he did not, in fact, find India...

In this episode, we’re decoding the hidden messages that the Victorians sent one another - with practically any accessory that was accessible! Clara and Sabrina delve into the secret signals hidden in the flutter of a fan, the delicate touch of a glove, and the subtle tilt of a parasol. Through newspapers from the early 1800s, we try to make sense of the nuances in gestures and symbols that spoke...

Get your hands and feet ready everyone, this week Clara introduces Sabrina to her favourite weasel, Gef the talking Mongoose! In the early 20th century, the Isle of Man became the unlikely setting for one of the most perplexing paranormal phenomena in history. We delve into the first hand accounts of interactions with this strange ghost of a creature, and discuss what, or who, Gef really could hav...

In this episode, Clara tells Sabrina about Victorian undergarments. From crinolines to drawers, and chemises to petticoats, we'll undress the secrets of each undergarment and its role in shaping the silhouette of the era. Join us as we examine how these garments were worn, why they were necessary, and the surprising ways they influenced Victorian fashion. But wait, weren't all those layers unbeara...

In part 2 covering corset controversy, we dive deeper into the history of corsets. Clara tells Sabrina about their role in maternity wear, children's corsets, and the evolving dynamics of gender and fashion. We also cover the propaganda that men used to claim corsets were harmful, in response to the growing Suffragette movement. We explore the multifaceted reasons behind the shift away from corset...

This episode, Clara can no longer contain her corset knowledge! She tells Sabrina about the intricate history of corsets, and debunks the myths surrounding these iconic garments. Contrary to popular belief, corsets were not always the suffocating torture devices depicted in period dramas. In fact, they served a multifaceted purpose in Victorian society, offering support, shaping silhouettes, and e...

This episode, Clara takes Sabrina on an exploration of the origins of Spiritualism and the remarkable story of the Fox sisters. Join us as we uncover the intriguing events that sparked a movement and forever changed the way we perceive the afterlife! Discover how the Fox sisters' alleged ability to communicate with the spirit world captured the public imagination, leading to the emergence of Spiri...

Clara tells Sabrina about the vibrant green hue that took Victorian society by storm, adorning everything from wallpapers to dresses. But behind the allure of this captivating colour was a chilling tale of deception, danger, and death. See photos discussed in this episode on our instagram Follow us on tiktok for videos that cover a condensed version of each topic! SOURCES: Crosscut - Arsenic: Vict...

Clara takes Sabrina into the bizarre world of Victorian mummy unwrapping parties, and unearth the strange ways in which mummies were used in the 1800's. We discuss how ground-up mummies found their way into Victorian paintings, fertilizer, and even medicine. See photos discussed in this episode on our instagram . Follow us on tiktok for videos that cover a condensed version of each topic! SOURCES:...

In the very first episode of Conjuring Curiosities, Clara tells Sabrina that in the Victorian era, death was not only a part of life but a spectacle intertwined with intricate rituals and symbolic gestures. We cover the customs, clothing, and keepsakes that accompanied grief, from elaborate mourning attire to the macabre beauty of hair jewellery. See photos discussed in this episode on our instagr...