The Macabrecast

In a continuation of our chats about Mass Psychogenic Illness (MPI) from episode 94, Holly shares the details of a strange tragedy from 1804. What started as ghost sightings in Hammersmith, London quickly escalated to murder one night. But that wasn't the end of it, the legal debate this case inspired continued on for decades afterwards.

Join us this week for Brooke's telling of the Scottish ballad about Tam Lin. His story centers around the love of his life and how she rescues him from the evil Queen of the Faeries. This ballad has drama, fae, shapeshifting, badass women, basically everything. And if you want more ballads, check out Episode 66: The Harrowing History of Murder Ballads!

Brooke is getting down to the nitty gritty with this episode’s focus—cadavers and their many careers! Dare to explore the plethora of ways bodies continue to live on after death, from the mundane plastic surgery training lab to the more grueling body farm! 

At a convent in France, during the middle ages, the nuns raised their voices in a beautiful chorus...of meowing? Holly will be sharing the strange tale of the meowing nuns this week, but we'll also be diving a little deeper. We'll chat about some other strange happenings at convents around Europe and learn a little bit about what could be the link between them: mass psychogenic illness. 

We're back with another little guy! The Gumbaroo is out there, lurky in the forests of the Pacific Northwest and you can learn all about this strange creature this week. This guy is friends with the Squonk and Hugag which you can hear more about in past episodes too.   Audio Warning: Toward the last half of the episode, there are a couple spots where we cut out for a second. Your audio isn't broke...

We're back for Part II of the whirlwind theft-streak of the Breitwieser and Kleinklaus. This episode delves deeper into the question of the Breitwieser's psyche and the dramatic and idiotic final capture. The cherry on top is the extraordinary way Breitwieser discovers his treasure-trove attic has been stripped bare. Listen in to find out what it takes to (poorly) dispose of 230+ works of art in l...

We dive into a whirlwind tale about a couple in romance and in theft! Brooke divulges all the details about the infamous art thief Stephane Breitwieser and his girlfriend Anne Catherine Kleinklaus who hit museums all across Europe in the 1990s. Pull up a chair for a long episode of intrigue, theft, and confusion before we jump into part two next time. 

Welcome back to Part II of the strange case of the Isdal Woman! We went over all the odd details of this case last episode, and we can't wait to jump into the many theories this week. Holly has more information for you all about eyewitness accounts, historic context, and whether the Isdal woman could have been a spy or maybe even part of a criminal ring.

We are heading to Bergen, Norway this week to cover the very intriguing unsolved case of the Isdal Woman. In 1970, an unidentified woman was found dead in Norway and the circumstances around her death have remained a mystery to this day. Holly will be sharing the details and facts that emerged in the investigation in Part I of this episode. Be sure to come back for Part II where we'll get into som...

Spring has sprung in Seattle, and the recent seasonal change has us curious about International Spring Equinox traditions. Macabrecast episodes often feature the spookier traditions of Autumn, but it's time Spring had its moment! Humanity has a habit of making traditions, forgetting about their original meaning, and co-opting them. As per the usual, buckle up for three lesser-known Springtime trad...

For Brooke's episode, we're delving deep into the trenches of London and discussing their POOr history with sewers and stink. Have you ever wondered what happens when 2.5 million people's excrement builds up with nowhere to go? Do you wonder who emptied the outhouse? Have you ever heard of Stinky Father Thames? This may be one of our silliest yet disgusting episodes yet!

As a kid, did you think quicksand was going to be a big deal? Or maybe you were concerned about sharks in the pool? This week, Holly will dive into some of the common childhood concerns and whether we really need to worry about these things. We'll be chatting all about quicksand, toilets, piranhas, and sharks!

On a snowy evening in 1919, after closing a 1.5 million dollar deal, Ambrose Small disappeared into the night never to be seen again. Holly will tell us all the details about Ambrose’s business dealings and underhanded personal dealing that led up to his disappearance. Even with details about Ambrose’s last day, the scrutiny of the public eye, monetary rewards, and many theories, Ambrose's disappe...

Brooke brings us back to a topic that helped with the creation of this podcast: Edgar Allan Poe! Many folks may know Poe for his macabre short stories and poems, but what folks may not know is that his death was equally mysterious and haunts scholars to this day. We will be doing a deep-dive into his life, his death, and the many theories and stories surrounding his last days.

We’re taking another trip into the mythical and fantastical this week! Holly will be telling us all about the stories around the mysterious Will-o’-the-wisp. These fascinating little creatures make their home around Ireland, Scotland, Wales, and England leading unsuspecting travelers astray. We’ll also be dipping our toes in the bog and learning a bit about the science that could be behind Will-o’...

Hey gang, we're BACK! Thanks for joining us again for more of the morbid, macabre, and unusual. In our first episode back, Brooke will be sharing all about Toad Stones. Are they precious gems? Magical stones? Terrifying teeth? We'll cover all the possibilities this week as we get back into the groove! For all our references, photos, and more check out our patreon here . 

Nursery rhymes aren't just creepy when sung in a horror movie, some of them have some very macabre origins. Holly will be delving into the history of some classic nursery rhymes like Ring-around-the-Rosie and Baa Baa Black Sheep. We'll also be talking about some lesser known nursery rhymes that have their own histories steeped in death and betrayal.

Audio Warning: We had some technical difficulties and Holly may be a little quiet at certain parts. Sorry folks! What really happened at the abandoned amusement park, Okpo Land? Brooke will be taking us through the urban legends surrounding this rundown amusement park. While many people have photographed and documented the abandoned grounds, we still don't know the truth behind the stories of fata...

A lot of people have their own experiences of building snowmen/snow-people as soon as that first snow starts to stick, but why do we do it? When did it start? Brooke's chilly episode will be all about snow-people throughout history. We'll even get to hear about some famous snow festivals and other surprising facts related to the winter weather.

Get ready for a very special Shahri-sode!! The long anticipated debut of Shahri’s episode is here and they’re kicking it off with a deep dive into psychopathy. They’ll be taking us through the history of the term and some of the myths around it. We’ll also be hearing from our guest, Sherwin, this episode as they give us a medical perspective on the topic.

Welcome back during this holiday season for a very special emu-sode! Brooke confronts her fear of birds to tell us about the Australian war against the Emu population. In the 1930s Australia sanctioned a planned attack against the wild Emu population that were ruining crops. While the Emus weren’t necessarily mounting their own military attack, they may have been the winners!

We're going back to the basics with an episode full of strange historical facts and macabre masks. Holly gives an overview of funerary masks from many cultures and their significance before delving into their more modern counterparts: death masks. Death masks have their own unique history as artistic references, forensic tools, and ways to remember loved ones.

We have a spooky painting for you all! Brooke dives deep into the eerie stories that surround the painting "The Hands Resist Him" by William (Bill) Stoneham. The artist, Bill, was inspired by a poem that his wife, Patti M. Stoneham, wrote by the title "Hands Resist Him." After painting this piece, it seems the subjects may have taken on a life of their own!

We’re back!! Thanks for sticking with as we took a little break to get back on schedule. We’re jumping back in with another haunted hotel for y’all. This time, Holly will be bringing us to Arizona’s Copper Queen Hotel that’s full of 16 ghosts, tragic town history, and mining town legends.

Welcome to spooky season!! We're kicking it off strong with an episode full of strange noises and unlocking doors at the supposedly haunted Vulcan Hotel. We'll learn about the history of the hotel from Brooke and the stories of it's spectral inhabitants. Tech Warning: We experienced some tech issues with recording, so if Brooke sounds quiet don't worry! While she may sound like a ghostly voice thi...