The Ghoul’s Guide to Santa Barbara

Was it random? Was it targeted? In this episode, Liz tells us about the meth-fueled murder of Phillip Bogdanoff at a Santa Barbara County nude beach.

This week, we'll learn more about Black history in Santa Barbara, focusing on the remarkable story of Otto Hopkins and his iconic Cotton Club. Through exploring Hopkins' life and the cultural significance of the Cotton Club, we uncover a lesser-known yet vital chapter in the broader narrative of African American contributions to American society. Born in the late 19th century, Otto Hopkins...

Join us as we unravel the story of 29-year-old Michael Stephenson, a wanderer who left his home in Chicago a decade ago, only to find himself living on the streets of Santa Barbara. Summers tells us how Michael lost his life one fateful night in August 1985, then became a symbol of the dangers facing the homeless. Meet David Kurtzman and James Tramel, two Northwestern Prep students with complex ba...

Ghost sightings at a 1980s Santa Barbara fire house? Yes, please! Liz gives us a delightful rundown of the eerie occurrences reported at Santa Barbara City Fire Station 4. Tucked away in the scenic surroundings of the San Roque neighborhood, this fire station once had a reputation for more than just fighting fires. Hear about firefighters’ encounters with strange happenings within the station'...

In this week's episode Jen tells us about The Ojai Vampire in our neighboring Ventura County.

The still-unsolved case that haunted local law enforcement for decades... A 20-year-old Carpinteria woman is found murdered, and Leonard Kirkes, a CHP officer who destroyed vital evidence, is tried, convicted, and then finally set free on appeal. But was he [allegedly] actually guilty?

Jen reads us 17 year old Lillian Casanova Morgan's personal account of her life and the murder of Dwight Faulding by her "pirate love" Jack Morgan.

A death at a hotel party during Prohibition leads to Fatty Arbuckle being accused of murder! Summers tells us about Fatty and his connection to Santa Barbara.

Liz tells us all about the history and haunting of Brinkerhoff Avenue in downtown Santa Barbara.

Learn more than you ever needed to know about the sugar industry, and how the tiny town of Betteravia sprung up outside of Santa Maria and became a ghost town a hundred years later.

Did you know Santa Barbara's Faulding Hotel is linked to the sensational maritime murder of Dwight Dorice Faulding? Or that an imposter pirate, Jean Dee Jarnette, was involved? You do now! Join us for this week's fascinating Depression-era double-mutiny aboard the schooner Aafje , told to us by Jen and with excerpts from an account written by witness (and 17-year-old bride of pirate Jean D...

This one is a doozy! Please enjoy the story of the haunted Santa Maria Inn, followed by 30 minutes of bonkers conversation.

It's our 20th Episode! Jen tells the story of Sante and Kenny Kimes, their bonkers romp across the US featuring weird codependency, arson (so much arson), confidence schemes related to Bicentennial flags, and the theft of a fine fur coat.

Buckle up, friends: one of us cries in this episode. Explore the fascinating history of Franceschi Park in Santa Barbara! This 15.78-acre park, equivalent to just under 4 standard Walmarts in size, sits atop the steep Riviera neighborhood. Discover why the Riviera is known for its wealthy residents and winding stagecoach roads, which now serve as pedestrian stairways. Franceschi Park is a unique g...

A series of unfortunate disasters related to the B-24 bomber during World War II in Santa Barbara.

Three stories from our October 27, 2023 live podcast taping on State Street in downtown Santa Barbara, hosted by the City of Santa Barbara Downtown Team. Dig into three stories from the downtown area: Do Seek the Traysure: Buried Treasure under a Downtown Parking Garage (told by Liz) A Streetcar Named EXPIRE (told by Jen) The Pointless and Awful State Street Murder of Theodore Glancey by the Annoy...

The Ghouls' first cult! Jen tells us all about Lompoc's Brotherhood of the Sun, founded by Norman Paulsen... featuring a hitchhiking alien.

🎙️🎃 Since the 1960s, the riotous communal Halloween celebrations in Isla Vista, the University of California, Santa Barbara’s college town, have been an iconic part of Santa Barbara culture. Love it or hate it, whether you participated yourself or believed the hype and stayed away, I.V. Halloween got in your way. So how did I.V. Halloween start? What else was going on in the 1970s when the Hallow...

The Ghouls are here to share a special episode featuring a Top 13 List of scary movies and shows to watch during spooky season!

Liz tells the story of Dennis (not the comedian) Miller, three murders in Santa Barbara, a potential diamond smuggling ring, and more in this week's episode! Details on our website, ghoulsguidetosb.com .

Explore the unsolved murder of Kym Morgan, a 24-year-old Brooks Institute photography student who vanished in 1985 after responding to a classified ad for a babysitting and housekeeping job. Kym's partial remains were later found in a remote forest area above Santa Barbara, and her case remains unresolved even now, after more than 35 years. Dive into the details of this chilling mystery with J...

Ever wondered what it was like to live through World War II in Goleta? Or wondered why Santa Barbara people are SO INTO mentioning that time a Japanese submarine shelled the shore in Ellwood, north of Goleta? Find out about two big incidents in the Goleta area: the Bombardment of Ellwood and the largely-unknown Refugio Prisoner of War (POW) Camp. Plus, why do some Santa Barbara people pronounce Re...

Who's in the box?! The fascinating history of Santa Cruz Island, the Stanton Ranch, and an amateur sleuth’s quest to find out whose cremated remains were found in a shed on the island. Find sources, photos, and more about the Unknown Woman of Santa Cruz Island on our website!

Santa Barbara's Lobero Theatre, founded in 1873 as an opera house for our then-tiny town, is full of mystery! From a missing gold eagle to dramatically-timed deaths and a number of reported ghost sightings, Jen's narration of this community treasure's history will keep you entertained and happy in your seats.

Lompoc, California's utopian, no-alcohol-allowed beginnings, including teetotaler terrorist acts against the evils of SALOONS are told to us by Summers. Plus, guess the movie quote of the week and find out how accurate the official Ghoul's Guide to Santa Barbara Magic 8-Ball is when we ask it a control question. Side notes include other utopian communities (thanks to Sarah Vowell's coverage of the...