The Fantastic Story Society

It's Halloween season, and the Fantastic Story Society is diving deep into the world of horror with Dr. Patrick Gonder — retired professor, horror scholar, and lifelong student of the strange. Together, we discuss the remarkable new film Good Boy, a ghost story told entirely from the perspective of a dog. Patrick shares insights into how the film's unique storytelling perspective shifts horror con...

Chad Lewis is a researcher, author, and lecturer on topics of the strange and unusual. His background is in the field of Psychology. He did his Bachelor and Master degree work in the field- but for nearly 30 years he's traveled the globe in search of unique and bizarre stories and history.

Wisconsin is home to Dungeons & Dragons and also home to a famous cryptid known as the Beast of Bray Road. The WI Historical Society created an event that celebrates both. Check out our adventure as we 'hunt the beast' down State Street in Madison, WI.

One of our co-hosts, Scott, was recently featured on the Tube documentary, Famously Haunted Hollywood. We go over the stories featured in the documentary: The Black Dahlia, The Manson Murders, Comedy Store, Peg Entwhistle, The Cecil Hotel.

Tony Szabelski is a flat-out Chicago ghost tour guru. He leads tours over 300 times a year throughout the city and surrounding suburbs. Perhaps his favorite area is Lincoln Park, essentially a forgotten cemetery, full of ghost stories. Take a tour at AmericanGhostWalks.com

Michael Alexander is always hustling within the creative field. He's a musician with history as a performer/songwriter, booker, venue owner and now a manager. Of course, creatives often utilize side hustles and Mike loves his sports cards. Plus, an intense ghost story

Yakov Smirnoff started out as a comic in Soviet Russia before coming to America and taking the comedy world by storm. He went from stage to the big screen and eventually to the White House as a Reagan speech writer.

Faun Mann got her production start while in Korea working in radio & TV for the military. Once she was stateside, she knew she wanted to get into television, where she's been ever since. Currently, she's working within the popular genre of true crime.

Scott (and his wife Wendy) fill Max in on their adventure across the Emerald Isle, discussing the haunted hot spots and legendary tales they discovered along the way... also the adventures of driving on the other side of the road.

Big thanks to the horror blog wonderfullyweirdandhorrifying.com for making this conversation happen. What did you think of "Hereditary?"

Join us for an international travel episode as co-Host Scott Markus & his wife headed to Portugal and visit the most famously haunted location in Portugal & visit a city that has a long mystical connection to folklore and witchcraft.

Happy Halloween! What better a way to celebrate than to go looking for ghosts! Let's combine that with all the paranoia about secret societies and do a paranormal investigation at a massive Masonic Temple near a state capitol building!

Writer/researcher Lindsay Blake has made a career out of a passion - finding where her favorite shows were filmed (starting with "Scream"). Geek out with us as we talk about unique locations across LA including hidden gems & strange LA crimes.

Haunted history tour guide, Rita Mae Moore, grew up with a ghost hunting mom before working in the police force and having some paranormal experiences there. Today, she's a tour guide & two-time author of a fantasy book series.

Max & Scott take a road trip across America to join the WGA picket lines in Hollywood. On the way, they stop at some unique locations associated with unique histories, stories & legends.

Colin Dickey is a wonderful writer and spectacular researcher. His work reveals hidden or lost truths behind famous stories we've all heard. His latest book is Under the Eye of Power: How Fear of Secret Societies Shapes American Democracy.

As we call into session this meeting of the Fantastic Story Society, we are thrilled to induct a new member. Her life as a writer and performer has evolved on stage in front of an audience, from Leprechauno to pregnant party girl to Mamacita, the diaper diva. She's a staple of Chicago radio, having hosted shows on the city's biggest stations. You can currently drive home with here everyday at WCPT...

Cassie Carpenter regularly leads tours of Haunted Los Angeles and Hollywood. After attending a haunted University in Southern California to major in theatre, it's only fitting! In this episode, we discuss a number of her favorite haunted LA locations.

Comedy director Jason Woliner has worked on some of our favorite comedies, from What We Do in the Shadows & Last Man on Earth to New Girl & the Borat sequel. He's back with the infinitely fascinating crime mystery Paul T Goldman, now streaming on Peacock.

Sci-Fi & horror writer-director Christopher Hatton joins us to discuss a variety of topics including Edgar Allan Poe, Singapore spiritual beliefs, Area 51, his own terrifying ghost story & his newest movie: Shudder's paranormal mystery "Raven's Hollow."

Screenwriter Jim Hart may be known for some modern classics like Bram Stoker's Dracula, Hook, Contact and may others, but it's also a witness to multiple strange events in the sky and stayed in an absurdly haunted house while in college.

Life-long Harry Houdini researcher John Cox join us to discuss the origins of Houdini's battles with fraudulent mediums, his odd death, the 'final Houdini seance,' and his time in Delavan, WI... all without getting stung by a single wasp!

Max & Scott dive into working on ghost hunting TV shows with producer and investigator MJ Dickson, who has looked into paranormal stories & haunted locations across the globe. Her fantastic story alone is worth tuning in for!

We sit down with one of the premiere experts in how cults operate and how to help someone get out. You can currently catch him on "The Vow" on HBO discussing his work with escaping NXIVM members + his work in Waco.

Documentarian Jay Bachochin enjoys hiking a vast wilderness in Wisconsin, but a number of unexplainable experiences there have opened his eyes to the nature of reality and what's possible in our known and unknown universe.