Left of Skeptic

Happy Spooky Wednesday, everyone! We have a special guest, Chad Brown (AKA C-Silence), with us this week! You can catch him this Homegrown both solo, and with his group, Boog3ym3n! First up, Kala tells us all about the Wyoming Frontier Prison in Rawlins, Wyoming. This building opened in the early 1900s, and like all prisons from that time, it has a terrible history of mistreating prisoners and horrible conditions. Add in a bit of the "wild west frontier" vibe, and you've got the perfect recipe for a haunting. And Brittany, as she hinted at last week, tells us about The Dakota in New York City, New York. This Upper West Side Manhattan apartment building is home to many rich and famous people, and has been throughout its history. But an outrageous rent is not keeping the ghosties away. They're out here not living their best after-life, making sure all the celebrities in the building know that they're still around. 

It is the last week to enter for a chance to win a week-long Homegrown Music Festival pass! (That's a $40 value, y'all!) Listen for the code word this episode, and be sure you've gotten the code words out of the last three episodes! DM us on Facebook or Instagram with the words and you'll be entered! We'll draw on Friday, April 26th, and contact the two winners on whatever platform they messaged us with! Thank you so much for participating this month, and thank you to all the special guests who came by and had fun with us! 

Happy Spooky Wednesday, folks! This week we have another special guest! Fearless leader of the Twin Ports Horror Society, member of more Duluth bands than we can count, and Co-Director of the Homegrown Music Festival: Cory Jezierski. In honor of his visit, we have selected two horror-themed stories this week. First, Kala talks about The Exorcism if Roland Doe, the inspiration behind the famous movie The Exorcist. And Brittany talks about the curse surrounding the iconic film Rosemary’s Baby. So many people who worked on this film seem to have met a sudden and sad end. And while Kala plays it off like she thinks it is a coincidence, Brittany isn’t so convinced, and she’s not so sure Kala doesn’t believe either. Sadly, there is no coverage of Dracula Furries (despite the title). Make sure to listen for the code word and message us on Facebook or Instagram for your chance to win a weeklong pass to the Duluth Homegrown Music Festival!

Happy Spooky Wednesday, friends! We've got special guest Breanne Marie of Breanne Marie and the Front Porch Sinners with us this week! First up, Kala talks about The Mizpah Hotel and The Clown Motel in Tonopah, Nevada. The Mizpah is a historic hotel that got its start during a mining boom, and has continued for over a hundred years to provide people with excellent service, a fun experience, and ghosts. Each floor from the fifth down to the basement holds the potential for the paranormal including a Lady in Red, giggling ghostly children, and menacing miners. And what better way to celebrate having one of Duluth's queens of country in the studio than to talk about an outlaw! Brittany talks about Jesse James and his family's farm. Jesse and his family, it turns out, were not great people. And their ghosts have stuck around to remind us of that.

 ***Make sure to listen for the Homegrown Code Word and send us a message!! We are giving away two week-long wristbands to this year's Duluth Homegrown Music Festival! Each episode in April, we will have special guests that are involved in the festival, we will be sharing a special code word in the episode. All you have to do is DM us the code word on Facebook or Instagram, and you will be entered in for the drawing, and we will announce the two lucky winners on Friday, April 26th! Each listener can enter once per episode, up to a total of four entries for the contest!  
We will message the winners on whichever platform they used to enter, and we will work out the details on how to get you your wristband, cozy, and patch!

Happy Spooky Wednesday and Happy Homegrown month, dear listeners! This week we have special guest Abe Curran of Winzige Hosen and many other Duluth bands! First up, Kala talks about Red Onion Saloon in Skagway, Alaska! This building was once a brothel during the Klondike Gold Rush in the late 1800s. It’s now a popular restaurant and bar that has embraced its history in the form of both its brothel museum and it’s ghostly inhabitants. When you visit, will the encounters be of the sensual kind or “push me down the stairs” kind? And Brittany tells us all about the Dybbuk box. This story has us screaming “WHY, KEVIN!?” as our story’s protagonist misses all the hints and makes a bunch of dumb choices. If you had a cursed object, would you pass it along to all your family members? No? That’s what we thought. Remember to listen for the code word to enter in our Duluth Homegrown Music Festival weeklong wristband giveaway! Once you know the code word, DM it to us on FB or Insta and be entered in for a chance to win! We will announce the winners on Friday, April 26th! Special thank you, again, to Abe Curran for joining us this week!

Happy Spooky Wednesday, folks! We’ve got a haunted home and a freaky factory for you this week! Kala talks about The Hinsdale House, also known as the Dandy House, in Hinsdale, NY. This old home was made popular in the 70s when the Dandy family reported being bombarded with paranormal activity while they resided in the old barn house. Objects moved, shadow figures were seen, and there may have even been some possession! And while there were attempts to cleanse the house, it doesn’t not appear those attempts were successful. And Brittany talks about Sloss Furnaces in Birmingham, AL. This historic landmark has a history full of terrible supervisors, industrial accidents, and other non-OSHA approved activities. The spirits who perished there still reside in the building. Who will you see? The man who was sucked into the industrial gears? Or maybe “Slag” the manager who overworked the workers and died in a very T2-esque accident? Either way, we’re pretty sure it’s not something you want to see.
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Happy Spooky Wednesday, everyone! First up, Kala talks about the famous Lake Lanier, a man-made lake in Georgia, often considered one of the most deadly lakes in the United States. This lake was built over what was once a thriving community, and though they cleared up some of the things people left behind, there is still plenty left in the depths of the water including building debris, old roads and vehicles, and even graves. Hundreds of deaths have occurred on this lake since its beginning, leaving some people to believe that the lake is haunted or maybe even cursed due to its horrible history. And Brittany tells us all about The House of Wills in Cleveland, Ohio. This former funeral home was once founded and ran by a pretty rad sounding man named John Walter Wills. And the gothic brick building had a fascinating history before Wills took it over. All that history has led to a hustle and bustle of ghostly activity within the building! We finish up the episode with a listener story by the ever-amazing Gina Gleason!

Happy Spooky Wednesday, everyone! We’ve got ghosts and eyeballs for you this week! First up, Kala heads back to the Midwest to talk about The American Club in Kohler, WI. This five star resort is known for its golf courses, restaurants, many amenities, and it’s lesser known for its ghosts. If you roam the halls you may hear strange voices, encounter cold spots, or possibly even see an apparition of the flannel ghost! And Brittany talks about the genetic condition known as central heterochromia. Characterized by different colors in the eye, it looks pretty dang cool. But is it just cool? Or a sign that you’re linked to the spiritual world? Brittany has it! Kala doesn’t. Does this mean Brittany is magical, and Kala is not? Take a listen to determine for yourself!

Happy Spooky Wednesday, folks! We’ve got a historic episode this week, literally. Full of history. First up Kala talks about Anne Boleyn and the many places she haunts. This woman has been vilified throughout history, but was she the villain or was she a victim? And has this caused her to stick around multiple locations long after death? And Brittany tells us about the Royal Hope Hospital in St. Augustine, FL. Playing an important part in many wars, this location has seen a lot of death, and it has the apparitions to prove it. What happens if you visit? Will you see an orb? Feel an icy hand? Or possibly be scratched with a message from the dead? All we know is, WE DON’T WANT IT.

Happy Spooky Wednesday folks! We’re going full X-Files this week with a Kala takeover where she discusses the Roswell incident and Area 51. In the late 1940’s a mysterious and unidentified object crash landed in a field. This was followed by leading newspaper headlines, sketchy government involvement, and way too many conspiracy theories to count. This is, by far, one of the most referenced events when people discuss the mystery that is Area 51. But what is really going on out there in the Nevada desert? Weapons or UFOs? Soldiers or Aliens? Analysis or control? Maybe all of the above?

Happy Spooky Wednesday, everyone! We’ve got a Brittany episode take over this week as she finishes telling us the extremely interesting tale of Mel’s Hole. And if you think you know the direction this story is going, trust us, you’d be wrong. When Art checks back in with Mel, it turns out he’d had quite the ride, including but not limited to: - saving wombats in Australia - losing almost two weeks of his life and his teeth - discovering other mystery holes out there - possibly finding a cure for cancer? How does this all happen? You need to listen to find out!

Happy Spooky Wednesday! For our third week of 2024 True Crime January, we’ve got the notorious Axeman of New Orleans. This serial killer stalked New Orleans and the surrounding areas in the early 1900s. For over a year, this man brutally ended the lives of many using the tools he found in the homes, especially axes. The Axeman was never identified, and the murders remain unsolved. Is his spirit still lingering on the streets of New Orleans? Or is it just a bad memory that continues to plague the minds of the locals?

Happy Spooky Wednesday, dear listeners! We are in the second week of True Crime January 2024, and we are covering "the most diabolical crime ever committed in Savannah," the Savannah Axe Murders, sometimes known as the Gribble House murders. This triple homicide caused widespread panic in the city, and it quickly became national news. After a LARGE string of (bullsh*t) arrests in Savannah, they finally caught the killer. We wish that was the end of the story, but sadly, this is a messy, terrible chapter in U.S. history. The story goes so much deeper than that. It is no wonder spirits have stuck around the property when there are so many pieces that remain unresolved. 
Content warning: Racism, murder, and descriptions of death 

Happy Spooky Wednesday and Happy Holidays, y'all! We've got an episode to tell you all about the reason for the season... giant cats and magical men. First up, Kala talks about Jólakötturinn, or Yule Cat. This creepy kitty wanders towns in Iceland on Christmas Eve to find out which children have been doing their chores and which have not. You better hope you have a new pair of socks in those Christmas presents, or the Yule Cat may eat your dinner and then eat you! We promise it makes more sense once you hear the whole story. And Brittany talks all about Santa Claus. How did this jolly fellow get his rep? Has he always been the Coca-Cola version we know today? No... his origin story is interesting, and something you'll definitely want to hear for yourself. We finish up the episode with some great ways to keep track of Santa this year for you and your kiddos (if you have them.)

Happy Spooky Wednesday, folks! We’ve got classic tales of a haunted museum, church, and cemetery this week! First up Kala tells us all about the Yunker Farm Children’s Museum in Fargo, ND. This 1800s farmhouse turned children’s educational experience is fun for the whole family, both alive and ghostly. The former missus of the house loves that her home is a fun place for kiddos, and she makes sure her warm and friendly presence is felt. And Brittany shares the story of the St. James Cemetery and Monk’s Castle in Lemont, IL. We expect to see spirits while wandering a cemetery, but how would you feel if you encountered a congregation of creepy monks dressed in black floating amongst the tombstones? Even when you expect to see a ghost, that’s got to be a little unnerving.

appy Spooky Wednesday, everyone! This week we've got classic stories in the form of a haunted hotel and a creepy college campus. First up, Kala talks about The Excelsior House Hotel in Jefferson, TX. Jefferson is a haunted little city, and this hotel is one of its hot spots. Allegedly, it's creepy enough to scare away one of the biggest names in Hollywood. Who will you encounter if you visit? The woman in black? The perfumed lady? The headless soldier? All three? If you do visit, do you think you can make it through the night? And Brittany tells us all the urban legends of Wells College in Aurora, NY. This campus is plagued by spirits of all kinds, and they all sound like they're straight out of a horror movie. From the roommate who never made it home from spring break to the student who stabs her teacher over stolen work, you'll find no shortage of stories to give you the shivers. Who can say no to a spooky week like this one? We're only a month away from True Crime January! If you have suggestions for locations, please feel free to drop us a line! Click the link tree in our bio! 

Happy Spooky Wednesday folks! We’re hitting two different categories of the paranormal this week with a tale of an alien abduction and an old, haunted inn. First, Kala discusses the Travis Walton Incident. In the 70s, Walton went missing, and when he returned he said he had been taken by beings in a UFO. While he’s been able to make a lifelong career out of his story, we are not so easily convinced, and it sounds like many others aren’t as well. And Brittany tells us all about the Old Faithful Inn at Yellowstone National Park. There are multiple ghosts present in this still-operating Inn, but the most famous is a headless bride who met her fate in one of the rooms. It’s rumored that her story may have been fabricated in the 80s, but even if that’s the case, how do we explain away the other apparitions who haunt the halls?

Happy Spooky Wednesday, dearests! This week we’ve got two locations that scream “Tale as old as time.” First up, we have Kala discussing the Ashmore Estates in Ashmore, IL. This old building that used to operate as an almshouse is active enough that nearly everyone who visits has an experience. So who will you meet? The man who was hit by a train? The child who just wants attention? Or the unnamed worker who has a problem with women in his boiler room? And Brittany tells us all about The Oxford Saloon in Snohomish, WA. Quite the party back in its day, this building got its start as a grocery store, but naturally moved on to a bar, casino, and brothel. With a location where violent outbursts and shady business practices are the norm, how can it not be haunted? Oh yeah… it’s definitely haunted.

Happy Spooky Wednesday, folks! Brittany is taking over this week with a story of the North Carolina house known as “Nannie”. Better known as the Poplar Hill Mansion, this historic home surprised one family when they moved in 2014. They definitely got more than they bargained for when they encountered the strange apparitions of women circling the property, unexplained noises, moving objects, and many other paranormal occurrences. When they dug into the history of the building and the land surrounding it, they found all the information needed to explain the haunted behavior… and they promptly moved out less than a year later. Check out the story and tell us, do you believe them? Do you think you’d have what it takes to stay at Nannie?

Happy Spooky Wednesday, folks! We’re back to our regularly scheduled programming with two haunted locations and a kooky case of psychokinesis. First up Kala talks about the Alliance Theater in Alliance, NE, which is said to be haunted by the ghost of a woman who died during a performance. Then she talks about the Mill Ruins Park in Minneapolis, MN. This site of the Great Mill Disaster may be a park now, but it seems like the ghosts don’t want us to forget this is the place where they met their end. And Brittany tells us all about the Rosenheim Poltergeist. Have you ever hated a job? Have you ever hated a job so much that it manifested itself as ghostly activity? No? Best make sure you’re going for a job you want or you may end up like the people in Brittany’s story this week.

Happy Spooky Wednesday and HAPPY HALLOWEEN, EVERYONE! It is our last week of Urban Legends October for 2023 and we are excited to bring you some truly classic urban legends this week! First up, Kala talks about the various types of Freaky Food stories we’ve been telling one another for decades. Tales of flesh-eating bananas, mutant chickens, and poisoned candy have been plaguing us for decades. Is there any truth behind these rumors, or have we been swallowing bullsh*t? And Brittany tells us all about Black Cats and how they became a symbol of Halloween. These beautiful animals have a long history of magic, some of it is good and some of it is bad. No matter what they say, we just know we love them. We finish up with a listener story of a pharmacy phantom. Cuddle up for our tales this week, and try not to get too scared… after all, it’s just a bunch of hocus pocus.  For more information about the Duluth Haunted Ship, visit their website: duluthhauntedship.com

Happy Spooky Wednesday, and welcome back to our 3rd annual Urban Legends October! It's "travel week", where we pick another country and cover some of our favorite urban legends from that area! This year we’re traveling to Australia, where deadly creatures both real and legend exist in abundance. First, Kala talks about Drop Bears. This creature is one of the most well-known cryptids of the country. Even if almost everyone knows they’re a myth, it doesn’t stop the locals from using tales of this animal to scare the tourists. And if that’s not enough to scare the tourists, what about the sharks they can find everywhere… even in golf club ponds? And Brittany talks about her favorite kind of cryptids: water monsters! She tells us the tale of the Hawkesbury River Monster (whom we have lovingly named Hawksie). Is this water-dwelling giant a crocodile, a big-ass sea horse, a dinosaur? We don’t know for sure, but we do love to speculate.  For more information about the Duluth Haunted Ship, visit their website: duluthhauntedship.com

Happy Spooky Wednesday and happy Spooky Season, one and all! We’re so excited to be starting out the 3rd annual Urban Legends October with the ever-amazing Adam Herman! We’re starting out the creepy month right with the super creepy game known as Three Kings. Calling it a game may be a stretch, it’s more of a ritual. Have you ever wanted your questions answered? Have you considered you may not like the answers given? If you can make it through the ritual, be prepared for unexpected results. Is this real, or just another creepypasta? Listen to people’s experiences and judge for yourself!

Happy Spooky Wednesday, friends! We hope you’re enjoying your fall as much as we are! We’ve got two haunted locations for you this evening, and both of them are waaaaaay old. Kala talks about The Farm on Round Top Road in Rhode Island, also known as The Conjuring House. This farmhouse inspired the movie The Conjuring, and the paranormal activity in the house is just as scary. It just may be one of the most haunted houses in America, especially if you believe the stories told by the Perron family who lived there for a decade in the 70s. And Brittany tells us all about the historic Old Bermuda Inn in Staten Island, NY. This beautiful building is haunted by a woman whose love never returned from the civil war. That love was strong enough to keep her around even after her death. She promised to leave a light on for him, and she’s keeping that promise to this day.

Happy Spooky Wednesday, dears! We've kept you on your toes long enough! This week, Brittany is bringing you the spine-chilling conclusion to The San Pedro Haunting! It turns out poor Jackie, Jeff, and the Barrys didn't get enough haunting activity and had to up the ante with a terrifying Ouija board experience. And just when they thought (again) that the experience was over, the haunting followed the family some more. But before we dive into that terrifying tale, Kala brings some lighthearted fun with her Top 5 funniest cryptids. These are creatures throughout the world that are lesser known, less believable, but bring us quite a few laughs. Which of these animals would you rather run into in a dark alley? The flying monkey? Or maybe the 4-foot-tall frog? Even if we find these tales ridiculous now, it didn't stop the locals from spreading the rumors. And just a reminder, we're only a couple of weeks away from our annual Urban Legends October! If you have any creepypastas, local legends, or scary bedtime stories you'd like to hear us talk about, send us a message or Spotify users can type a response in the Q&A down below! 

Happy Spooky Wednesday, everyone! We’ve got one happy haunting for you this week, and one very unhappy haunting. First, Kala talks about The Grand in Oshkosh, WI, and by gosh, it’s just so wholesome. No tragic tales sparked the ghosties here. As far as we can tell, it’s just some theater nerds who stuck around because they loved that business we call show. A lifelong caretaker, enthusiastic audience members, and a mischievous pup are just some of the specters you may encounter at this theater! And Brittany tells us about the San Pedro haunting. This 80s occurrence is no joke, they’ve got photos and video to back it up. And the many experiences of one poor investigator named Jeff who just can’t seem to catch a break. Just when you think it might let up, things get more intense! But we’ll have to wait until next week to hear about that…

Happy Spooky Wednesday! This week we've got creepy stories galore! Kala talks about Gore Orphanage Road & Swift's Hallow in Vermillion, OH. Once Kala gets over her urge to sing Hawthorne Heights, she ends up telling us a surprisingly complicated tale where the line between truth and urban legend gets awfully blurry. The ruins of this orphanage that existed, but may not have existed as the stories said, is a popular location for "legend tripping". This leaves us wondering if the location is actually haunted, or just a place where bored teenagers go to get themselves all worked up, causing the legend to build even more over time. And Brittany tells us about Concord's Colonial Inn in Concord, MA. The hotel was built before the Revolutionary War began and is located close to the North Bridge. The famous bridge was where the “shot heard around the world” took place. And once Kala gets over her urge to make Hamilton references, Brittany tells us about the events that may make this Inn one of the most haunted places in Massachusetts.

Happy Spooky Wednesday, folks! First up this week, Kala has an important question: Alien or Cryptid? The Flatwoods Monster scared the butts off some West Virginia residents back in 1952. There are three different documented occurrences of this creature all within the same year, and it didn't make a great impression with its weird shaped head, glowing red eyes, metallic dress, and terrible smell. The whole "crashing down from the sky" thing didn't seem to help much either. While we may feel this is a pretty cut-and-dry alien story, there has been some debate on whether this creature is actually a cryptid. Either way, the story was intriguing enough at the time to be included in Project Blue Book. And last week Brittany told us all about this history of the Ouija board, so this week she's telling us stories of people's experiences with the ouija board. It would appear this Hasbro game has been blamed for many tragedies throughout the years. So is it the Ouija boards' fault, or are people just using this investigative tool as a scapegoat for their crimes? We end the episode with a listener story about the cutest little ghost ever!

Happy Spooky Wednesday, one and all! This week we're heading to the east coast to talk about historic locations, famous authors, literary puns, and ghosts galore! Kala is covering the Westminster Hall & Burying Grounds in Baltimore, MD. This cemetery is known for being the final resting place of Edgar Allen Poe, along with many war veterans and politicians throughout history. It could have ended up like every other cemetery, except they decided to build a church right in the middle of it... right on top of graves! Combine that fact with grave robbing, cadaver stealing, and children playing with skulls, and you've got the perfect recipe for a haunting. Brittany discusses The House of Death in New York City, NY. This unassuming building looks like many others in the neighborhood, and it is famous for being the one-time home of Mark Twain. It would seem that is the only #funfact about that house, and everything else is an un-fun fact. Now converted into apartments, death seems to have occurred on every floor, and they've got the ghosts to prove it. From the bedrooms to the bathrooms to the stairwells, there's no escape. The question is: Even if you could afford to rent this Greenwich Village location, should you? 

Happy Spooky Wednesday, everyone! We’ve got two locations this week to tingle your spines and bump your gooses! Kala starts it off with the Haunted Hill House in Mineral Wells, TX! This location is home to 9 different spirits, some that we know the names of, some that we don’t, and all of them vocal. If you choose to stay in this mansion overnight, be prepared to have motion-activated decorations go off out of nowhere, phantom hands touch your hair, and not-so-sweet nothings whispered in your ears. These ghosts are here, and they’re not afraid to let you know it. Brittany finished the episode with the story of Hotel del Coronado near San Diego, CA. This is the story of a woman who checked in, but never checked out. Kate Morgan was ghosted (haha… get it? Ghosted?!) by a lover, and she never recovered. Guests and employees have seen her wandering the property, destined to spend eternity alone. And that doesn’t even cover what happens in the gift shop… We hope y’all are enjoying your summer. Thank you for listening! Please remember to check us out on social media, and rate and subscribe to our podcast on your favorite listening services!

Happy Spooky Wednesday, one and all! It may be summertime out in the real world, but here in Left of Skeptic Land it is spooky season all year long! First up this week, Kala tells us about The Death Ship of Platte River, also known as The Wyoming Death Ship. This omen of doom has been seen multiple times along the Platte River between Torrington and Alcova, and allegedly every one who has spotted it has had a loved one pass away the very same day. Is this really a ghost ship, or a method of clairvoyant dreaming? It leads to quite the debate. And Brittany talks about the historic Greystone Mansion and Garden in Beverly Hills, CA. This building had a rough, sketchy start when less than a year after it was built, two people died within its walls. Was it part of a giant government cover-up? Was it two lovers who couldn't handle keeping their feelings a secret any longer? Was it a jealous wife caught in a love triangle? We'll never know, and because we'll never know, it seems the ghosts will never rest. This now public park and famous location for movie and television filming is haunted with phantom gunshots, strange noises, and shadowy figures. And as a bonus, it's also a location for Gilmore Girls, so you really can't go wrong.