Ghosthropology

In this episode, Matt chats with Mike Banti, author of the popular Weird Fresno blog. They discuss how paranormal investigators help people, the importance of folklore, and the charm of Fresno's own Nightcrawler. Enjoy! Weird Fresno Blog: https://www.weirdfresno.com/ ... plus on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/WeirdFresno/ Instagram https://www.instagram.com/weirdfresno/ TikTok https://www.tikto...

In this episode, Matt concludes his discussion of Ludwig Lavatar’s 16th-century book on Protestant Demonology, Of Ghostes and Spirites Walking by Night. In this part, we learn that ghosts are actually demons, that Medieval and late Roman sorcerers got up to some freaky stuff, and that Bulgaria was once ruled by a werewolf. We also find that Lavatar has a rather upsetting yet mundane explanation as...

In this, the first of two episodes, Matt discusses the first part of Of Ghostes and Spirites, Walking by Night, a book in which a 16th-century theologian tried to explain why, in a world that he believed to be ruled by a Christian God, people saw ghosts. This book provides fascinating insights into Renaissance folklore, beliefs about the afterlife, and theology. And there’s a lot of smack talk. Gh...

In this episode, Matt takes a field trip to California State University Fresno to talk about the spooky stories associated with the campus, including haunted music rehearsal spaces, a demon stalking the dormitories, and the spirit of a respected journalism professor. Along the way, he is nearly run down by scooters and encounters horses walking through campus. He also tries to persuade a ghost to...

In this episode, Matt discusses sleep paralysis, one of the most common and controversial topics in discussions of ghost folklore. Matt will talk about the folklore surrounding sleep paralysis, the origins of the modern study of the phenomenon, and how a folklorist appears to have spurred the medical community to take the matter seriously. All episodes, sources, and show notes: https://kmmamedia.c...

The Pinedale neighborhood of Fresno, California was once the location of a facility used to stage Japanese-Americans on their way to the WWII-era internment camps. In this episode, Matt talks about how history can be stored but also warped in ghost stories and how some aspects of our past hold lessons for the present. Also, there’s an old Spanish lady who throws sand in people’s eyes. Previous Epi...

Sharon A Hill returns to discuss the ghosts at Penn State and the rise of ghost hunters associated with this prestigious university. (Her previous episode was ep 85: The Stone Tape Theory.) Enjoy! Previous Episodes and sources: kmmamedia.com/podcasts/ghosthropology-podcast/ Facebook: facebook.com/ghosthroplogy Instagram: instagram.com/ghosthropod YouTube: youtube.com/@ghosthropology

We have all heard it - some locations are haunted because they were “built on an Indian burial ground.” What is the truth to such claims? What does it really mean when someone invokes this type of claim? In this episode, Matt does a deep dive into the question of Native American cemeteries and the hauntings said to happen there. The Ghosthropology Podcast is hosted by Matthew Armstrong, with produ...

Matt talks with Dr. Amendt-Radueg about remnants, old stories, and the history of ghosts from vague shades to actual things that go bump in the night. Dr. Amendt-Radueg: https://chss.wwu.edu/english-department/raduega The Ghosthropology Podcast is hosted by Matthew Armstrong, with production from Kaylia Metcalfe, and is a part of the KMMA Media Network www.kmmamedia.com Facebook: facebook.com/ghos...

While we are on hiatus, we hope you enjoy this quick supplemental episode that gives you a peek behind the microphone at how the episodes are made. Look for more regular episodes in March. The Ghosthropology Podcast is hosted by Matthew Armstrong, with production from Kaylia Metcalfe, and is a part of the KMMA Media Network www.kmmamedia.com Facebook: facebook.com/ghosthroplogy Instagram: instagra...

Soviet scientists drilled the deepest borehole ever dug by humans. They were looking for geological information, but instead, they encountered the very fires of Hell itself. In this episode, Matt discusses an urban legend with ties to both Evangelical Christianity and late 1980s right-wing politics. The Ghosthropology Podcast is hosted by Matthew Armstrong, with production from Kaylia Metcalfe, an...

The Playa Vista or Bellona Wetlands area is said to be haunted. Despite the location containing a well-known and widely reported Native American cemetery, the ghosts are actually somewhat unexpected and weirdly delightful. In this episode, Matt talks about ghosts, real estate development, archaeology, and Howard Hughes. Previous episodes: https://kmmamedia.com/podcasts/ghosthropology-podcast/ Inst...

It seems that every theater that hosts live performances is home to at least one ghost story. But what about movie theaters? What about old movie theaters that became live performance venues? What can the ghosts that haunt these places tell us about how we connect our present with the past? In this episode, Matt talks about three theaters in his home state that are said to be haunted by a variety...

In the episode, Matt continues his talk with Dr. Michele Hanks and Dr. Liberty Stanavage about the ghost stories associated with Dr. Hank's alma mater, Mount Holyoke Colege. Ghost stories, campus rituals, and goofy comments ensue.

In the episode, Matt talks with Dr. Michele Hanks and Dr. Liberty Stanavage about the ghost stories associated with Dr. Hank's alma mater, Mount Holyoke Colege. Ghost stories, campus rituals, and goofy comments ensue. Instagram: @kmma_media Facebook: www.facebook.com/ghosthropology Past episodes: kmmamedia.com/podcasts/ghosthropology-podcast/

Matt speaks with Sharon Hill about the Stone Tape Theory, a common explanation for ghosts in paranormal circles. Matt and Sharon discuss the history of the concept, its plausibility, and how it is often applied to locations that don't actually meet the conditions required for it to work. Sharon A. HIll is an independent researcher, geologist, author, and science communicator with 25+ years of rese...

The Big Yellow House in Summerland is reputed to be one of the most haunted houses in California, but Matt thinks this claim is a bit overblown. In this episode, he discusses how the fading of cultural memory can lend credence to stories that are otherwise unremarkable. Instagram: @kmma_media Facebook: www.facebook.com/ghosthropology Past episodes: https://kmmamedia.com/podcasts/ghosthropology-pod...

Mudhouse Mansion is one of the better known haunted houses in Ohio. From a historically dubious story about slavery to a deeply creepy story about a woman staring out of a window for ten days straight, Mudhouse Mansion provides a range of ways to think about ghost stories. Instagram: @kmma_media Facebook: www.facebook.com/ghosthropology Past episodes and sources: www.kmmamedia.com/podcasts/ghosthr...

Far to the north and deep in the woods, there is a ghost town… but unlike some ghost towns, this is a place where the mysteries of the forest and the supernatural converge. Matthew takes us to Alaska to unravel the facts from the fiction and to find out what Bigfoot has to do with this spooky place. Instagram: @kmma_media Facebook: www.facebook.com/ghosthropology Past episodes and sources: www.kmm...

Matthew takes a quick look at some odds and ends… little bits of interesting stuff that doesn’t quite fit anywhere else. From who is in on the joke, what Freud has to do with folklore, and even a very famous private part, this episode has a tiny bit of everything. Instagram: @kmma_media Facebook: www.facebook.com/ghosthropology Past episodes and sources: www.kmmamedia.com/podcasts/ghosthropology-p...

Communities of paranormal enthusiasts have long been in dialogue with communities of skeptics, therefore understanding the skeptics movement is relevant to understanding how paranormal beliefs develop and function. In this episode, Matt discusses the history of the skeptics community, as well as his own experiences as a former member in order to illustrate both the good and the bad of turning skep...

The White Lady is a common ghost story motif, and the city of Santa Cruz, California, is home to a classic example. She wanders in a place that is at the edge between urban and rural in a small canyon that gets dark before the sun has even set. If you aren’t careful, you might just find an axe flying towards your head…or not. In this episode, Matt talks about the White Lady of Santa Cruz. Ghosthro...

In this episode, Matt speaks with podcaster Jim Harold who has been the host of The Paranormal Podcast since 2005 and Jim Harold's Campfire since 2007. The Paranormal Podcast has allowed listeners to hear both believer and skeptic voices on paranormal subjects. At the same time, the Campfire Podcast has been a venue for listeners to share their own stories. This episode covers Jim Harold's history...

In this episode, Matt talks with Rob Hawthorn, who creates and leads ghost tours in Mendocino County, California. They discuss the process of gathering stories, putting them together, and leading a ghost tour as well as how ghost stories represent the community from which they come. Special Guest Rob Hawthorn: a writer, history buff, paranormal enthusiast, and bookseller on Califonia's Mendocino C...

The Moss Beach Distillery, located just north of Half Moon Bay on California’s coast, is reputed to be haunted by a number of ghosts, most notably a 1920s flapper garbed in a blue dress. In this episode, Matt discusses ghost stories, historical research, commerce, tourism, and technological trickery Find us on Facebook: facebook.com/ghosthropology Or on Instagram @kmma_media Past episodes and sour...