Show notes
Poltergeists can be really bothersome spirits. Rather than just appearing out of the corner of our eyes or leaving a dime on the windowsill or unmaking the bed, they usually play pranks and enjoy scaring people. Poltergeist stories are always tough to believe because the activity is so intense, it's hard to believe. But even more fascinating are the evolving theories about what is behind the phenomenon. On this episode, we're traveling through centuries of strange disturbances, terrified families, baffled investigators, and some of the most famous poltergeist accounts in history. We'll explore the stories, examine the evidence, and follow the changing theories about what — or who — might be responsible for things that move when no one touches them. Because the history of the poltergeist isn't just a history of things that go bump in the night. It's also a history of how we try to explain the things that frighten us most. So turn down the lights, settle in, and keep an ear out for any unexplained noises nearby. Because this time, when something goes bump in the night, we're going to ask a different question. What if it isn't a ghost? This Month in History features Orson Welles' War of the Worlds.
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Show notes can be found here: https://historygoesbump.blogspot.com/2026/10/hgb-ep-661-history-of-poltergeists.html
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Music used in this episode:
Main Theme: Creepy Carnival Theme Created and produced by History Goes Bump Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
(This Month in History) "In Your Arms" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
Halloween 2026 Vol. 1 by Sascha Ende at Ende.app Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
Sound Effect by DRAGON-STUDIO from Pixabay Sound Effect by Scottish Guy from Pixabay Sound Effect by Paul ( PWLPL) from Pixabay Sound Effect by freesound_community from Pixabay