Episodes

  • From Hell: Jack the Ripper Part Three | Many Jacks

    From Hell: Jack the Ripper Part Three | Many Jacks
    Jan 21 2025
    London, 1888. The streets of Whitechapel were gripped by fear, each brutal killing a stark reminder of a predator who remained just out of reach. The horror left behind was matched only by the mounting questions. Who was responsible? What drove them to commit such heinous acts? And how did they escape justice? In this third chapter of our journey, we turn our attention to the suspects. From troubled individuals living on society’s fringes to powerful figures immune to scrutiny, theories abound. For over a century, investigators, historians, and enthusiasts have tried to piece together a picture of the person—or persons—behind the infamous murders.Join us as we examine the evidence, unpack the rumors, and consider the stories of those accused. Was the Ripper someone hiding in plain sight, or does the truth lie in the overlooked and unexpected? The answers may be elusive, but the search for them continues to captivate the world.Haunted History is produced by SoundBite Studios and hosted by Megan Alda and Derek Stephen Brown, with writing and research by Chloë Kibbe, Megan Alda and Derek Stephen Brown. Connect with us!• Follow us on Instagram• Follow us on TikTok• Follow us on Facebook• Subscribe on YoutubeVisit us at www.hauntedhistorypod.com to learn more!Episode Reference MaterialDescendants of Jack the Rippers’s victims want new inquest after DNA breakthrough on killer’s identity by Rebecca CamberDoes a new genetic analysis finally reveal the identity of Jack the Ripper? by David Adam From Hell by Alan MooreSuspect list by The Metropolitan Police (Digital Archives) Jack the Ripper by Andrew CookThe Complete Jack the Ripper by Donald RumbelowJack the Ripper: The Definitive History by Paul BeggThe Ultimate Jack the Ripper Sourcebook by Keith Skinner and Stewart EvansJack the Ripper: The Final Solution by Stephen KnightPortrait of a Killer by Patricia CornwallJack the Ripper as the Threat to Outcast London by Robert F. HaggardWas Lewis Carroll Jack the Ripper by The Oxford MailWas Serial Killer H.H. Holmes also Jack the Ripper? His relative makes a case in Fort Myers by Charles RunnellsThe Evil Deeds of Dr. Cream by Jill ForanBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/haunted-history--6354060/support.
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    48 mins
  • Lore & Legends | Baba Yaga: The Witch of the Snowy Forest

    Lore & Legends | Baba Yaga: The Witch of the Snowy Forest
    Jan 19 2025
    When a young villager named Yuri ventures into her sinister forest to save his cursed village, he strikes a dangerous bargain to retrieve the mystical firebird. But as the story unfolds, Yuri learns the true cost of dealing with the unpredictable Baba Yaga. This episode explores the enduring power and peril of Slavic folklore's most enigmatic witch.

    Haunted History is produced by SoundBite Studios and hosted by Megan Alda and Derek Stephen Brown, with writing and research by Chloë Kibbe, Megan Alda and Derek Stephen Brown.

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    Episode Reference Material

    ThoughtCo

    Wikipedia

    Impact Partners

    Levack, The Witch-Hunt in Early Modern Europe, 2006

    Warner, From the Beast to the Blonde: On Fairy Tales and Their Tellers, 1995

    Zipes, The Complete Fairy Tales of the Brothers Grimm, 2002

    Encyclopedia Britannica

    WorldHistory.org

    Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/haunted-history--6354060/support.
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    39 mins
  • Minisode | A Stranger’s Son: The Vanishing of Bobby Dunbar

    Minisode | A Stranger’s Son: The Vanishing of Bobby Dunbar
    Jan 17 2025
    There’s a photograph—a little boy in overalls, staring back at the camera with a shy, curious smile. For nearly a century, that boy has been at the center of one of the most perplexing mysteries in American history. His name was Bobby Dunbar... or was it?

    On a hot summer day in 1912, four-year-old Bobby disappeared while on a family trip to Swayze Lake, Louisiana. His parents searched tirelessly, their anguish echoing through the deep bayou. Then, eight months later, a miracle—or so it seemed. A boy matching Bobby’s description was found in Mississippi. But as one family rejoiced, another claimed him as their own, casting doubt on his identity and splitting the small-town community in two.

    Was this the joyous reunion it appeared to be? Or was it the start of a decades-long deception? Tonight, we’ll unravel the haunting tale of Bobby Dunbar, a story where love, loss, and lies blur the line between truth and illusion.

    Haunted History is produced by SoundBite Studios and hosted by Megan Alda and Derek Stephen Brown, with writing and research by Chloë Kibbe, Megan Alda and Derek Stephen Brown.

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    Episode Reference Material

    This American Life with Ira Glass

    The Strange Case of Bobby Dunbar by Terry L. Jones

    How Bobby Dunbar Disappeared — Then Returned As A Different Boy by Katie Serena

    The Disappearance of Bobby Dunbar by Joe Donan



    Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/haunted-history--6354060/support.
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    33 mins
  • From Hell: Jack the Ripper Part Two | Macabre Masterpiece

    From Hell: Jack the Ripper Part Two | Macabre Masterpiece
    Jan 14 2025
    The room was still. The kind of stillness that lingers after something terrible has unfolded, when the air itself feels heavy with unspoken truths. Pale winter light seeped through the grimy windows of 13 Miller’s Court, casting a cold clarity over the ruin within. Mary Jane Kelly, the youngest and most enigmatic of the Ripper’s victims, spent her final hours singing, seeking warmth, and grappling with her circumstances. By morning, her life had ended in an act of unimaginable brutality. In death, she became a symbol of despair, a mystery never solved, and the grim crescendo of a killer’s reign.

    In Part 2 of our Jack the Ripper series, we pick up with Mary Jane Kelly’s final days, the chilling aftermath of her murder, and the questions that remain unanswered.

    Haunted History is produced by SoundBite Studios and hosted by Megan Alda and Derek Stephen Brown, with writing and research by Chloë Kibbe, Megan Alda and Derek Stephen Brown.

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    Visit us at www.hauntedhistorypod.com to learn more!

    Episode Reference Material

    Jack the Ripper 1888 by Richard Jones

    Casebook: Jack the Ripper by Stephen P. Ryder

    The Ultimate Jack the Ripper Sourcebook by Stewart P. Evans

    A big day in history: Mary Ann Nichols becomes the first victim of ‘Jack the Ripper’ (31 August1888) by BBC History Magazine

    Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/haunted-history--6354060/support.
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    57 mins
  • Lore & Legends | The Vampire of New Orleans

    Lore & Legends | The Vampire of New Orleans
    Jan 12 2025
    In the early 1900s, Jacques St. Germain, a mysterious and charming man claiming to be a descendant of the immortal 18th-century Count of St. Germain, arrives in New Orleans. He quickly becomes a prominent figure in high society, hosting extravagant dinner parties where he never eats or drinks, and captivating guests with stories that seem eerily personal.

    However, rumors swirl about strange noises from his mansion, and when a young woman is found bloodied and hysterical, claiming Jacques tried to drink her blood, the city's dark legend begins to resurface.

    Haunted History is produced by SoundBite Studios and hosted by Megan Alda and Derek Stephen Brown, with writing and research by Chloë Kibbe, Megan Alda and Derek Stephen Brown.

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    Visit us at www.hauntedhistorypod.com to learn more!



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    26 mins
  • Tyrant King: The Tragedy of Clipperton Island

    Tyrant King: The Tragedy of Clipperton Island
    Jan 10 2025
    In the early 20th century, Clipperton was home to a small group of settlers, lured by hope and the promise of a new life. But their paradise quickly became a prison as war, disease, and the relentless elements closed in on them.

    What followed was a tale of survival, betrayal, and tragedy—a story where the line between life and death blurred, and desperation turned to horror.

    Haunted History is produced by SoundBite Studios and hosted by Megan Alda and Derek Stephen Brown, with writing and research by Chloë Kibbe, Megan Alda and Derek Stephen Brown.

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    Visit us at www.hauntedhistorypod.com to learn more!


    Episode Reference Material

    The Tyrant of Clipperton Island (Damn Interesting) by Marisa Brooke

    The Tyrant King of Clipperton Island (Historic Mysteries) by Lauren Dillon

    Abandoned by John Watts

    Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/haunted-history--6354060/support.
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    26 mins
  • From Hell: Jack the Ripper Part One | The Canonical Five

    From Hell: Jack the Ripper Part One | The Canonical Five
    Jan 7 2025
    The streets of Whitechapel in the autumn of 1888 were a labyrinth of narrow alleys and hidden corners, cloaked in a chill that seeped into the bone. Beneath the flickering gas lamps, the city pulsed with a restless energy—uneasy, watchful. Lives intersected in the crowded tenements and bustling markets, but an unseen presence moved among them, deliberate and unseen.

    In the span of a few months, multiple lives were stolen in acts so gruesome they seemed to defy human comprehension. The details shocked even the most hardened residents of London’s East End, and the name of the killer became a puzzle that no one could solve. A figure without a face, a phantom whose crimes changed the fabric of the city forever.

    Haunted History is produced by SoundBite Studios and hosted by Megan Alda and Derek Stephen Brown, with writing and research by Chloë Kibbe, Megan Alda and Derek Stephen Brown.

    Connect with us!

    • Follow us on Instagram
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    Visit us at www.hauntedhistorypod.com to learn more!


    Episode Reference Material

    Jack the Ripper 1888 by Richard Jones

    Casebook: Jack the Ripper by Stephen P. Ryder

    The Ultimate Jack the Ripper Sourcebook by Stewart P. Evans

    A big day in history: Mary Ann Nichols becomes the first victim of ‘Jack the Ripper’ (31 August1888) by BBC History Magazine

    Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/haunted-history--6354060/support.
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    52 mins
  • Lore & Legends | "Am I Beautiful?" The Haunting of Kuchisake-Onna

    Lore & Legends | "Am I Beautiful?" The Haunting of Kuchisake-Onna
    Jan 5 2025
    In a time long past, Akiko was known for her beauty, a treasure admired by all, yet it became her greatest curse. As the lonely wife of a distant samurai, whispers of betrayal turned her husband’s love to cruelty. His blade marred her face, and his final words cut deeper than steel: “Who will find you beautiful now?

    Betrayed and broken, Akiko’s grief festered into vengeance. From her suffering rose the Kuchisake-Onna—the Slit-Mouthed Woman. Now, her spirit roams the shadows, asking a question laced with peril: "Am I beautiful?”

    Her tale is one of heartbreak, revenge, and the haunting presence of a legend that refuses to fade.

    Haunted History is produced by SoundBite Studios and hosted by Megan Alda and Derek Stephen Brown, with writing and research by Chloë Kibbe, Megan Alda and Derek Stephen Brown.

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    Visit us at www.hauntedhistorypod.com to learn more!

    Influences:

    • Kuchisake-onna (Slit-Mouthed Woman) Legend: The legend of Kuchisake-onna is rooted in Japanese folklore. She is a ghost who wears a mask and asks people if they think she is beautiful, revealing a grotesque slit from ear to ear when they respond, leading to a fatal encounter.
    • Japanese Yokai and Folklore: The creation of the narrative, including the transformation from vengeful spirit to guardian, was inspired by general themes in Japanese folklore where spirits evolve, interact with the living, and sometimes atone for their past actions, as seen in stories like Yuki-onna, Jorogumo, and Tengu. These spirits often embody the concept of redemption or transformation after they are freed from a curse or personal torment.
    • The Symbolism of Masks and Faces: The mask in Kuchisake-onna’s legend is a common trope in folklore, often symbolizing hidden identity or trauma. This element was woven into the narrative to represent Akiko's struggle with her own identity and her eventual redemption.
    • Traditional Themes of Redemption and Vengeance in Japanese Folklore: Themes of revenge, transformation, and reconciliation are common in Japanese folklore. The motif of a spirit or figure who haunts others, only to later seek redemption, is reflected in many stories, such as the transformation of spirits in Kaidan (Japanese ghost stories) and modern interpretations of ancient legends.
    Other inspiration:
    • "Yokai Attack! The Japanese Monster Survival Guide" by Hiroko Yoda and Matt Alt (for an introduction to Japanese spirits and yokai)
    • "The Dark Side of the Moon: A Folklore and History of Japanese Ghosts" by Michael Dylan Foster
    • Japanese Ghosts and Demons: Art of the Supernatural" by Stephen Addiss


    Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/haunted-history--6354060/support.
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    30 mins