Ding Dong Darkness Time

37: On Hexing Your Ex and Other Witchcraft Oct 31, 2023

For the ultimate Halloween celebration, it seemed an opportune time to discuss another well-known trope of the season. This week we're joined by Nathaniel Dickson, the eldest spawn of our host! Nate has dabbled in the craft for the last several years, and they're here to bring all their practical knowledge and insights into things like tarot cards, crystals, spells, divination, manifestation, Dungeons & Dragons, and yeah, maybe that one time they hexed their ex. Don't worry, it was warranted.
Happy Halloween!
Additional Info:
Nate's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/honiemoth/
J&J Crystals in Charlevoix: https://jjcrystalrocks.com/

Show Credits:
Graphics -- Nathaniel Dickson: http://ndickson.com
Music -- Spencer Morelock, Ken Dickson
Ding Dong Darkness Time Media:
Twitter: @dddarknesstime
Instagram: dddarknesstime
Gmail: dddarknesstime@gmail.com

36: Werewolves and the Other Shapes We Take Oct 24, 2023

This week of spooky month, Allison and Jayson Blair of the Silver Linings Handbook podcast sit down for a thoughtful discussion on the long history and complex culture surrounding another one of our universal monsters: the werewolf.
From symbolizing the harmony between person and beast in various indigenous cultures, to the fear of our own animalistic natures in Ancient Greek and European history and folklore, the werewolf offers us a chance to confront not only our anxieties regarding change and control, but a chance to embrace transformation and potentially even make friends with the parts of ourselves we're afraid to confront. And how in the pursuit to understand this world and each other, the stories we tell about our monsters are vital to maintaining our humanity.
Additional Info:
Jayson's Podcast:
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-silver-linings-handbook/id1665733166
Follow Jayson on Twitter:
https://twitter.com/jaysonblair7
Join the Silver Linings Handbook Facebook Group!
https://www.facebook.com/groups/1361159947820623

Show Credits:
Graphics -- Nathaniel Dickson: http://ndickson.com
Music -- Spencer Morelock, Ken Dickson
Ding Dong Darkness Time Media:
Twitter: @dddarknesstime
Instagram: dddarknesstime
Gmail: dddarknesstime@gmail.com

35: Allison and Brett Talk Zombies Oct 16, 2023

Last year, friend of the show Brett from The Prosecutors podcast came on to talk with Allison about ghosts and his time as a paranormal investigator. This time, they're going all in on a discussion of a different form of the restless dead: ZOMBIES, those flesh-craving ghouls that have a lot more going on with them historically and culturally than meets the eye.
From folklore born during the enslavement of West Africans in Haiti to the shambling, brain eating automatons of George Romero lore and so much more in between, the zombie is the perfect mirror of the social anxieties of the time.
Also stick around to hear their picks for the perfect zombie apocalypse weapons and vehicles.

Show Credits:
Graphics -- Nathaniel Dickson: http://ndickson.com
Music -- Spencer Morelock, Ken Dickson
Ding Dong Darkness Time Media:
Twitter: @dddarknesstime
Instagram: dddarknesstime
Gmail: dddarknesstime@gmail.com

34: Let's Talk Vampires Oct 09, 2023

We're getting tropey with it this October, with a series of episodes on some core spooky creatures and lore. And no such event would be complete without a comprehensive discussion on everyone's favorite bloodsuckers, VAMPIRES!
Josh from Press Play and Scream joins the show and together, he and Allison cover the gamut, beginning with the origins of the lore and mythology before delving into the popular culture and discussing some of their favorite vampire movies and theories about what real vampirism might look like in this wild modern world of ours.
Additional Info:
The Press Play and Scream Podcast

Show Credits:
Graphics -- Nathaniel Dickson: http://ndickson.com
Music -- Spencer Morelock, Ken Dickson
Ding Dong Darkness Time Media:
Twitter: @dddarknesstime
Instagram: dddarknesstime
Gmail: dddarknesstime@gmail.com

33: A Love Letter to Bad Art, Pulpy Movies, and the Wonders of Tubi feat. Ed Kurtz Oct 01, 2023

This week, Allison sits down with famed author Ed Kurtz to discuss his new anthology, IN THE COLD, COLD GROUND coming soon from Cemetery Dance, but then he sticks around a little longer to open up about his love affair with cinema, and in particular the never-seen low/no budget weird wonders of yesteryear and today. What makes us love "bad art?" What even does that mean? And what is behind his drive to scour through the depths of Tubi and even VHS in search of hidden treasures?
All that and more in this riveting discussion you won't want to miss.
Additional Info:
Ed Kurtz Books
Order IN THE COLD, COLD GROUND
Avoid Rotten Tomatoes

Show Credits:
Graphics -- Nathaniel Dickson: http://ndickson.com
Music -- Spencer Morelock, Ken Dickson
Ding Dong Darkness Time Media:
Twitter: @dddarknesstime
Instagram: dddarknesstime
Gmail: dddarknesstime@gmail.com

32: Ding Dong Movie Time -- The Banshees of Inisherin Sep 01, 2023

Better late than never! Back in Episode 29, Allison and her fellow cinephile Josh Bermont discussed director Martin McDonagh's amazing debut crime film, IN BRUGES, starring Colin Farrell and Brendan Gleeson.
Now you can listen to the rest of that discussion, as they dig into the latest film by this legendary trio, THE BANSHEES OF INISHERIN, which came out in 2022.
Unlike In Bruges, which is a contemporary story about two assassins holed up in a very storybook medieval town, Banshees takes place in 1923 on a remote island off the coast of Ireland, and involves an odd feud between two old friends. Yet somehow, the two make perfect bookends on a thematic level.
And similarly, be sure to check out the In Bruges discussion if you haven't already!
IMDB on The Banshees of Inisherin
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt11813216/
Episode 29: In Bruges
https://dingdongdarknesstime.buzzsprout.com/1871782/12731855-25-ding-dong-movie-time-apocalypse-now-and-the-hearts-of-darkness
The Press Play and Scream Podcast
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/press-play-and-scream/id1589942694

Show Credits:
Graphics -- Nathaniel Dickson: http://ndickson.com
Music -- Spencer Morelock, Ken Dickson
Ding Dong Darkness Time Media:
Twitter: @dddarknesstime
Instagram: dddarknesstime
Gmail: dddarknesstime@gmail.com

31: A Murderous Mic Dropping Finale -- The Cult of Multi-Level Marketing Companies Aug 14, 2023

In the last episode of their coverage on multi-level marketing companies, Allison and Beverly delve into the darkest of the dark side of these schemes, selecting several personal accounts found online as well as talking a little bit about one particularly gnarly company the Feds shut down back in the early seventies for deceptive trade practices, among other things: Holiday Magic. There might have been coffins and crucifixions involved.
Finally, Allison delivers one final definitive statement about MLMs and their ties to a well known family annihilation case that not nearly enough people talk about.
Additional Info:
MLM Horror Stories on Reddit
https://www.reddit.com/r/antiMLM/comments/wkc8q0/whats_the_saddest_mlm_horror_story_youve_had/
Holiday Magic
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Holiday_Magic
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Pit:_A_Group_Encounter_Defiled

The Dream Podcast Season 1
Learn more about guest Beverly Bambury!
https://www.beverlybambury.com/

Show Credits:
Graphics -- Nathaniel Dickson: http://ndickson.com
Music -- Spencer Morelock, Ken Dickson
Ding Dong Darkness Time Media:
Twitter: @dddarknesstime
Instagram: dddarknesstime
Gmail: dddarknesstime@gmail.com

DDD18: Amway is STILL a Scam, Bae -- A Short Follow-Up Jul 24, 2023

Allison and Beverly are BACK to tie up some loose ends from the original Amway episode with this first Ding Dong Ditch episode that has a guest!

We dissect an interesting listener review as well as further flesh out the political influence of Amway and how it came to write the book on current laws governing the industry. Finally, we hope to clarify the discussion of politics in general as it relates to this show, but in particular topics such as these.
Additional Info:
The Dream Podcast Season 1

Show Credits:
Graphics -- Nathaniel Dickson: http://ndickson.com
Music -- Spencer Morelock, Ken Dickson
Ding Dong Darkness Time Media:
Twitter: @dddarknesstime
Instagram: dddarknesstime
Gmail: dddarknesstime@gmail.com

DDD17: The Pinkerton Detective Agency -- Heroes or Hired Thugs? Jun 20, 2023

Recently, news reported on the raid of a YouTuber's home by the Pinkerton agency in the recovery of some potentially ill-gotten gains.
Magic: The Gathering cards...

yeah...

Anyway, you've probably heard of the Pinkertons before. They have a history so rife with blood they should probably be called the Reddingtons. From protecting trains and stage coaches to spying on the Confederacy during the Civil War, and throwing bricks and sticks of dynamite at striking workers, hundreds have died at the hands of this organization that predated modern law enforcement.

Let's dive in, shall we?

Show Credits:
Graphics -- Nathaniel Dickson: http://ndickson.com
Music -- Spencer Morelock, Ken Dickson
Ding Dong Darkness Time Media:
Twitter: @dddarknesstime
Instagram: dddarknesstime
Gmail: dddarknesstime@gmail.com

30: Allison Goes Back to 80s High to Talk 'The Mystery of Al Capone's Vaults' Jun 14, 2023

It was a billed as the biggest sensation of its time in 1986 when famed TV journalist Geraldo Rivera brought us a 2 hour live special all about the infamous Chicago gangster Al Capone and the secret tunnels and vaults discovered beneath one of his old hotels. The idea was Capone had stashed away some of his ill-gotten gains down there, and the world was going to all to witness together a time capsule from a bloody era of American history being opened with the help of a team of excavators and dynamite.
And well... you can learn all about what happened in this episode Allison joined on the totally tubular 80s High podcast hosted by Ben and occasional Ding Dong Darkness Time Co-host Chris (aka King Ding Dong). Once you've enjoyed this one, stick around and listen to everything else they have to offer!
Additional Info:
https://the80shigh.podbean.com/

Show Credits:
Graphics -- Nathaniel Dickson: http://ndickson.com
Music -- Spencer Morelock, Ken Dickson
Ding Dong Darkness Time Media:
Twitter: @dddarknesstime
Instagram: dddarknesstime
Gmail: dddarknesstime@gmail.com

29: Ding Dong Movie Time -- In Bruges Jun 05, 2023

Allison and Josh from the Press Play and Scream podcast are back yet again to jibjab about some wacky flicks! This time, they're taking on the brilliant playwright turned cinematic auteur, Martin McDonagh's brilliant 2008 bleak comedy film, In Bruges. Starring Colin Farrell and Brendan Gleeson as two hitmen who, after a job gone horribly wrong, are ordered to await their fate in the picturesque medieval Belgian village. But while they're there, they find some very unexpected ways to reflect on and redeem themselves of a life of crime.
Also, you don't want to miss Josh's various accents.
Additional Info:
In Bruges on IMDB
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0780536/

Show Credits:
Graphics -- Nathaniel Dickson: http://ndickson.com
Music -- Spencer Morelock, Ken Dickson
Ding Dong Darkness Time Media:
Twitter: @dddarknesstime
Instagram: dddarknesstime
Gmail: dddarknesstime@gmail.com

DDD16: The Whirlwind Life and Tragic Death of Jayne Mansfield May 31, 2023

She was one of the last of the blonde bombshell stars of the 20th century, a singer, actress, comedian, and a cunning rival of Marilyn Monroe. Her life was cut tragically short on a late summer night in 1967, and her death left an unusual legacy that you probably encounter every day without realizing it.
Additional Info:
https://allthatsinteresting.com/jayne-mansfield-death

https://www.ranker.com/list/jayne-mansfields-car-accident/kellie-kreiss?utm_source=newsletters&utm_medium=weirdhistory&utm_campaign=wh_active&utm_content=%7Bdate%28%27yyyyMMdd%27%29%7D

https://ricelawmd.com/all-about-mansfield-bars-and-their-dangers-to-drivers/

Show Credits:
Graphics -- Nathaniel Dickson: http://ndickson.com
Music -- Spencer Morelock, Ken Dickson
Ding Dong Darkness Time Media:
Twitter: @dddarknesstime
Instagram: dddarknesstime
Gmail: dddarknesstime@gmail.com

27: Amway is a Scam, Bae: The Cult of Multi-Level Marketing Companies -- Part 2 May 18, 2023

In the second part of their dive into MLMs, Allison and Beverly pull two more beefy deceivers out of the hat: Amway and Primerica.
Whereas a lot of MLMs set their hooks in women, particularly stay-at-home moms looking to make a quick buck, these companies tend to have a much broader net, and when it comes to Amway in particular, you'll find yourself stuck in a genuine cult. We explain all the reasons why.
And with Primerica, we learn that just saying you're not an MLM doesn't mean jack squat when you actually read the fine print. And you can find better, cheaper life insurance elsewhere.
Stay tuned for Part 3!
Additional Info:
Amway Links:
https://www.cs.cmu.edu/~dst/Amway/AUS/cultism.htm
https://www.moneyaftergraduation.com/amway-is-a-pyramid-scheme/
http://marriedtoanambot.blogspot.com/2012/03/how-to-be-good-amway-cult-leader.html
https://www.reddit.com/r/MLMRecovery/comments/ia4ogo/amwaywwdb/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=ios_app&utm_name=iossmf
https://www.motherjones.com/politics/1998/11/tough-sell/
Primerica Links:
https://www.finance-guy.net/streetonomic/primerica-review?fbclid=IwAR2zhMSuCaOMSMnpyw2GnhVi_rcAjHd7pbAIXTeZ_bdaHrDd9LJgmG731tc
https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1475922/000156459021009754/pri-10k_20201231.htm?fbclid=IwAR2W8g9gfZdXqvR666DSxdcp-JG06KtkE7G1jmLLdYs-hJ5zfWMTa8PWFe8

Show Credits:
Graphics -- Nathaniel Dickson: http://ndickson.com
Music -- Spencer Morelock, Ken Dickson
Ding Dong Darkness Time Media:
Twitter: @dddarknesstime
Instagram: dddarknesstime
Gmail: dddarknesstime@gmail.com

26: Pyramid Worship: The Cult of Multi-Level Marketing Companies -- Part 1 May 09, 2023

In this first of a multi-part series, Allison and her pal Beverly start a journey of revelation and personal reminiscence through the shady world of multi-level marketing companies, beginning with a couple of the OGs from that world: Avon and Tupperware. These brands are highly nostalgic and carry a lot of cultural weight, but they are only the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the deceptive marketing practices, lost money, damaged relationships, and ruined lives that MLMs are largely known for.
Additional Info:
Tupperware Info
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tupperware

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brownie_Wise

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Multi-level_marketing

FTC and Other Links
https://www.ftc.gov/sites/default/files/documents/public_comments/trade-regulation-rule-disclosure-requirements-and-prohibitions-concerning-business-opportunities-ftc.r511993-00008%C2%A0/00008-57281.pdf

https://www.ftc.gov/sites/default/files/documents/public_comments/trade-regulation-rule-disclosure-requirements-and-prohibitions-concerning-business-opportunities-ftc.r511993-00017%C2%A0/00017-57317.pdf

https://www.ftc.gov/sites/default/files/documents/public_comments/business-opportunity-rule-535221-00006/535221-00006.pdf

https://www.thebalancemoney.com/business-is-an-mlm-scam-1794756
Elle's Younique (#Poonique) Experience
https://ellebeaublog.com/poonique/
Travelling Jezebel's Avon Deep Dive
https://travellingjezebel.com/is-avon-a-pyramid-scheme-a-deep-dive-into-avon/?fbclid=IwAR2dNuvyksw7u9L5Luk_PL4-XqNplagF79HZjhVo3F0zo5jfjoY6-gBRTyM

Show Credits:
Graphics -- Nathaniel Dickson: http://ndickson.com
Music -- Spencer Morelock, Ken Dickson
Ding Dong Darkness Time Media:
Twitter: @dddarknesstime
Instagram: dddarknesstime
Gmail: dddarknesstime@gmail.com

25: Ding Dong Movie Time: Apocalypse Now and the Hearts of Darkness Apr 26, 2023

In 1979, Francis Ford Coppola released Apocalypse Now, his stunning, surreal Vietnam war-fueled adaptation of Joseph Conrad's 1899 book, The Heart of Darkness. But even more harrowing than the events onscreen were the ones happening behind the camera as over a year of filming began to take its toll on everyone involved. Drugs, nervous breakdowns, monsoons, a near deadly heart attack... and that's only the beginning. Step aboard the boat, Ding Dongs. This journey is taking us a place where only madness dwells.
Joining Allison for the discussion, and bringing his keen insights, is the always amazing Josh Bermont from the Press Play and Scream podcast.
Additional Info:
The Press Play and Scream Podcast
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/press-play-and-scream/id1589942694

About Apocalypse Now
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hearts_of_Darkness:_A_Filmmaker%27s_Apocalypse
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0078788/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1

Show Credits:
Graphics -- Nathaniel Dickson: http://ndickson.com
Music -- Spencer Morelock, Ken Dickson
Ding Dong Darkness Time Media:
Twitter: @dddarknesstime
Instagram: dddarknesstime
Gmail: dddarknesstime@gmail.com

24: The German Connection: 10 Countries, 10 Mysteries -- Part 2 of 2 Apr 19, 2023

We're wrapping up our global tour of the Top 10 Ding Dong Countries by bringing you a mystery from the final five. What are they? Well... we'll leave you to listen and find out, but they do all have one thing in common: GERMANY IS EVERYWHERE.
This episode is bringing you Van Gogh (murder or suicide?), a possible cryptic code to a mysterious homicide (YOGTZE), a pair of wicked coin heists, the possible identification of the Somerton Man, and a mysterious woman's skeleton in a nightmarish tree.
Pack your bags, Ding Dongs. This is gonna be one helluva sojourn.
Additional Info:
Bella in the Wych Elm:
https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/news/midlands-news/revealed-after-75-years-face-14329271
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Who_put_Bella_in_the_Wych_Elm%3F
YOGTZE: The Baffling Case of Gunther Stoll
https://www.historicmysteries.com/gunther-stoll/
Vincent Van Gogh: Murder or Suicide?
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Death_of_Vincent_van_Gogh
https://www.vanityfair.com/culture/2014/12/vincent-van-gogh-murder-mystery
The Toonie Truck Heist of 1996
https://www.readersdigest.ca/culture/canadas-greatest-unsolved-mysteries/
https://www.cbc.ca/archives/the-day-thieves-drove-off-with-1-5-million-brand-new-toonies-1.5647971 https://www.ctvnews.ca/canada/a-brief-incomplete-history-of-strange-canadian-industrial-thefts-1.4297601?cache=yes%3FautoPlay%3Dtrue

The saga of Canada's stolen million-dollar coin

https://macleans.ca/economy/money-economy/the-saga-of-canadas-stolen-million-dollar-coin/
Somerton Man: Australia's most enduring mystery... solved?
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Somerton_Man
Astonishing Legends podcast: https://www.astonishinglegends.com/

Original four part series (Ep. 33-36) from 2017
Follow up episode (Ep. 239) from August, 2022

Show Credits:
Graphics -- Nathaniel Dickson: http://ndickson.com
Music -- Spencer Morelock, Ken Dickson
Ding Dong Darkness Time Media:
Twitter: @dddarknesstime
Instagram: dddarknesstime
Gmail: dddarknesstime@gmail.com

23: A Love Letter to Our International Listeners! 10 Countries, 10 Mysteries: Part 1 of 2 Apr 13, 2023

As promised when we celebrated the Top 10 American listener cities by bringing you an interesting mystery from each one, Allison and Chris are back to deliver 10 mysteries from the show's top listener countries!
No passport needed for this epic journey. But you may want to bring a coat. It's a little chilly in some of these locales...
Additional Info:
The Trude Espås Case: The Unsolved Geiranger Murder Mystery
https://www.lifeinnorway.net/trude-espas-geiranger-mystery/
https://www.reddit.com/r/UnresolvedMysteries/comments/i8gpjz/the_20yearold_was_found_raped_strangled_and/
https://www.world-today-news.com/the-police-found-rotten-clothes-in-the-trude-espas-case/
SKRIM - a Scandinavian true crime podcast, Episode 043: Trude Espås

Bog bodies: A 2,000 year old unsolved mystery
https://www.bbc.com/travel/article/20161014-a-2000-year-old-unsolved-mystery
https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/europe-bog-bodies-reveal-secrets-180962770/

Steytlerville monster: The Manbatpig mystery
https://weekinweird.com/2011/05/11/shape-shifting-monster-terrorizes-town/
https://roadtravel1.wordpress.com/2011/05/30/shape-shifter-in-the-karoo/ https://www.skeptophilia.com/2011/04/manbatpig.html

The Sanby Borg Massacre
https://www.nationalgeographic.com/history/history-magazine/article/can-archaeologists-solve-swedens-1500-year-old-murder-mystery
https://www.nationalgeographic.com/history/article/dna-study-ancient-massacre-victims-raises-more-questions-answers
Peter Bergmann: The Man Who Didn't Exist
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_Bergmann_case

Show Credits:
Graphics -- Nathaniel Dickson: http://ndickson.com
Music -- Spencer Morelock, Ken Dickson
Ding Dong Darkness Time Media:
Twitter: @dddarknesstime
Instagram: dddarknesstime
Gmail: dddarknesstime@gmail.com

22. Ding Dong Movie Time: The Descent Apr 04, 2023

This week, Allison and Chris descend into a discussion of one of their favorite horror films of all time, the 2005 subterranean masterpiece, The Descent.
But is it really a movie about a caving adventure gone horribly awry... or is it a home invasion story?
Also, which ending is your favorite?
So much good discussion and more, so gear up, grab your axes and ropes and glow sticks, and let's explore this thing!

Show Credits:
Graphics -- Nathaniel Dickson: http://ndickson.com
Music -- Spencer Morelock, Ken Dickson
Ding Dong Darkness Time Media:
Twitter: @dddarknesstime
Instagram: dddarknesstime
Gmail: dddarknesstime@gmail.com

21. Ten Cities, Ten Mysteries -- Part 2 of 2 Mar 15, 2023

Allison and Chris round out the shout-out to the show's most popular listener cities by bringing you some pretty heavy hitting mysteries from the Top 5!
In Dallas, we bring the story of a possibly haunted landmark, the Goatman Bridge, with some chilling lore that feels true, even if it might not be.
Next we travel to the Rocky Mountains of Denver, for a tale of gold prospecting and cannibalism. Did Alfred Packer merely eat his fellow campers to survive the elements during a harrowing journey to strike it rich, or were there more sinister actions afoot? The mystery endures to this day, but what do you think?
While pondering that, follow us up to Seattle, where not far outside the city spawned the original modern day sighting of UFOs in 1947, by one Kenneth Arnold. Was it aliens he spied that day zooming above Mount Rainier? We can't be for certain. What we do know is if you want to know the birth place of UFOs as we know them, you need to start a little further north than Roswell, New Mexico.
After that, Allison brings it back home (literally) to Dayton, Ohio, where she discusses the serial killer that once lurked in her backyard in the early 20th century: The Dayton Strangler.
Finally, we end our journey at the infamous Windy City, Chicago, with a case that pits the innocence movement against the criminal justice system. The case of Anthony Porter and Alstory Simon was told in the stunning documentary, "A Murder in the Park" back in 2014, but here Allison breaks down the basics of the case that led to the state of Illinois banning the death penalty, while also bringing a lot of questions to the methods used by all who claim to fight for justice.
Additional Info:
The Goatman Bridge
https://wedentondoit.com/blog/2013/10/18/back-in-the-day-goatmans-bridge
Alfred Packer Cannibalism
https://www.onlyinyourstate.com/colorado/denver/unsolved-mystery-denver/
https://archives.colorado.gov/collections/history/alfred-packer
Kenneth Arnold UFO Sighting
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kenneth_Arnold_UFO_sighting
The Dayton Strangler
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dayton_Strangler
Murder in the Park/Alstory Simon/Anthony Porter
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anthony_Porter
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_Murder_in_the_Park

Show Credits:
Graphics -- Nathaniel Dickson: http://ndickson.com
Music -- Spencer Morelock, Ken Dickson
Ding Dong Darkness Time Media:
Twitter: @dddarknesstime
Instagram: dddarknesstime
Gmail: dddarknesstime@gmail.com

20: Ten Cities, Ten Mysteries -- Part 1 of 2 Mar 08, 2023

At the end of 2022, Allison and Chris decided to craft something of a love letter to the Top 10 cities that regularly tune in to Ding Dong Darkness Time every week. So we started scouring for a mystery to highlight in what might very well be your neck of the woods!
We start at a bleeding house in Atlanta before traveling to the odd little enclave of Sun City Center (or rather, Tampa) Florida for a cold missing person case involving a young mother named Lucinda Huels. From there we head up to Baltimore to talk about the strange death of one of the world's most famous authors, before venturing all the way out to the Pacific Northwest to discuss a kind of hilarious hole in Portland, Oregon.
Then we wrap it up with a fascinating historical murder crime case out of Minneapolis/St. Paul that goes all the way back before the establishment of the state of Minnesota, and how the suspected killer ended up becoming famous enough to have his name put on buildings.
Come back next week for our Top 5 cities!
Additional Info:
Atlanta's Bleeding House
https://medium.com/the-mystery-box/the-bleeding-walls-in-atlanta-c92a0bc53833
https://theghostinmymachine.com/2021/08/02/unresolved-what-caused-the-atlanta-blood-houses-mysterious-mess/
The Disappearance of Lucinda Huels
https://whereaboutsstillunknown.wordpress.com/2017/02/12/tinze-lucinda-huels/http://www.doenetwork.org/cases/11dffl.html
https://rcccmcc.com/2019/09/12/tinze-lucinda-huels/?amp=1
https://www.reddit.com/r/UnresolvedMysteries/comments/ye4utl/lucinda_huels_was_17years_old_when_she/
The Strange Death of Edgar Allan Poe
https://brightestyoungthings.com/articles/im-a-creep-im-a-weirdo-baltimore-and-d-c-s-most-mysterious-mysteries
https://www.britannica.com/story/the-mysterious-death-of-edgar-allan-poe
https://cvm.missouri.edu/quoth-the-raven-it-was-actually-rabies/
The Woodstock Mystery Hole
https://www.barronmind.com/wmh.htm
https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/woodstock-mystery-hole-skb
https://bridgeliner.com/%F0%9F%95%B3%EF%B8%8F-dig-into-the-history-of-the-woodstock-mystery-hole/
Edward Phelan and The Oldest Murder Mystery in Minnesota
https://www.mprnews.org/story/2015/07/17/books-thread-minnesotas-oldest-murder-mystery

Show Credits:
Graphics -- Nathaniel Dickson: http://ndickson.com
Music -- Spencer Morelock, Ken Dickson
Ding Dong Darkness Time Media:
Twitter: @dddarknesstime
Instagram: dddarknesstime
Gmail: dddarknesstime@gmail.com

19: The Cult of Teal Swan Part 2 of 2: If She's An Alien, She's Not a Very Nice One Mar 01, 2023

Allison, Chris, and Beverly are back this week to wrap up their discussion on controversial cult... or spiritual influencer Teal Swan, and forewarning, it gets a little dark as we discuss topics of abuse, assault, and suicide, and all the ways Teal has been instrumental in promoting these things among her inner circle.
If you are struggling with thoughts of suicide and self-harm, there is help no matter where you are in the world. Dial 988 in the United States, or check here for your particular country's suicide prevention hotline:
https://blog.opencounseling.com/suicide-hotlines/
Chris's 80s High Podcast
https://the80shigh.podbean.com/
Beverly Bambury Publicity
https://www.beverlybambury.com/
Watch The Deep End on Hulu:
https://www.hulu.com/series/the-deep-end-e052aae5-14fb-4043-bb11-94f5880421b3
Teal Swan Exposed
https://tealswanblog.wordpress.com/
The Gateway Podcast and Article:
https://www.refinery29.com/en-us/2018/08/205915/the-gateway-teal-swan-youtube-cult-jennings-brown
The Truth About Cameron
http://thetruthaboutcameron.blogspot.com/
Growing Up With Teal Swan (Mormon Stories Podcast)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pY04M9tNEq0
A former inner-circle member of Teal's speaks out:
https://www.celestialhealing.com/2017/07/teal-swan.html

Show Credits:
Graphics -- Nathaniel Dickson: http://ndickson.com
Music -- Spencer Morelock, Ken Dickson
Ding Dong Darkness Time Media:
Twitter: @dddarknesstime
Instagram: dddarknesstime
Gmail: dddarknesstime@gmail.com

18: The Cult of Teal Swan Part 1 of 2: The Fathoms of Deceit Feb 23, 2023

We're continuing our cults series by diving into what we've termed Cults 2.0, the online self-help gurus who've made it their mission to deliver spiritual wisdom and healing to the global masses via YouTube, Instagram, and other online platforms. And one particularly polarizing figure in this world is self-identified "social catalyst" Teal Swan.
Welcoming friends Chris and Beverly into a lively discussion, Allison attempts to shed some light on Teal's childhood and eventually ascent to controversial modern-day guru. We also break down many of the problems of guru culture, and why it often tends to turn toxic, and why Swan in particular is dangerous to people vulnerable to serious mental illness and suicidal tendencies.
But first we must ask ourselves why people are drawn to Teal's highly unorthodox techniques, and also more importantly... is this even a cult?
Additional Info:
Watch The Deep End on Hulu:
https://www.hulu.com/series/the-deep-end-e052aae5-14fb-4043-bb11-94f5880421b3
Teal Swan Exposed
https://tealswanblog.wordpress.com/
The Gateway Podcast and Article:
https://www.refinery29.com/en-us/2018/08/205915/the-gateway-teal-swan-youtube-cult-jennings-brown
The Truth About Cameron
http://thetruthaboutcameron.blogspot.com/
Growing Up With Teal Swan (Mormon Stories Podcast)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pY04M9tNEq0
A former inner-circle member of Teal's speaks out:
https://www.celestialhealing.com/2017/07/teal-swan.html

Show Credits:
Graphics -- Nathaniel Dickson: http://ndickson.com
Music -- Spencer Morelock, Ken Dickson
Ding Dong Darkness Time Media:
Twitter: @dddarknesstime
Instagram: dddarknesstime
Gmail: dddarknesstime@gmail.com

DDD15: Let's Talk About Pain Feb 16, 2023

Yes that's right, Ding Dongs. Allison is back after a longer than intended hiatus. In this short episode, she talks a little bit about the circumstances behind her absence, and she can't do that without talking about the scourge of chronic pain and all the damage it can do. Not only physically, but emotionally and cognitively.
Additional Info:
Long-Term Effects of Chronic Pain
https://www.pathways.health/chronic-pain-long-term-effects-on-the-brain-and-body-explained/
Social Security Uses Outdated Job Tables to Deny Disability Benefits
https://wapo.st/3xuuvUS

Show Credits:
Graphics -- Nathaniel Dickson: http://ndickson.com
Music -- Spencer Morelock, Ken Dickson
Ding Dong Darkness Time Media:
Twitter: @dddarknesstime
Instagram: dddarknesstime
Gmail: dddarknesstime@gmail.com

DDD14: Why Do We Love True Crime? Dec 20, 2022

For the final episode of 2022, we decided to close out the year on a reflection of why so many of us love the genre of true crime. Though it's important to get something out of the way real quick: this obsession is nothing new for humans. In fact, it goes back centuries. We've only become better at making and distributing it since the days of the gory moralist pamphlets it started as.
Allison also went digging for other points of view on what draws us to stories of murder and mayhem, so tune in and let us know what interests you!
Ding Dong Darkness Time will be back in January, so happy holidays to all of you, and thank you for making this an amazing year.

Show Credits:
Graphics -- Nathaniel Dickson: http://ndickson.com
Music -- Spencer Morelock, Ken Dickson
Ding Dong Darkness Time Media:
Twitter: @dddarknesstime
Instagram: dddarknesstime
Gmail: dddarknesstime@gmail.com

17: Class of Cults - Doomsday Cults and The Order of the Solar Temple Dec 07, 2022

Who would have guessed that the disbandment of the Knights Templar in 1309 would have led to centuries of people scrambling to lay claim to their legacy as descendants of the legendary order of Catholic knights?
With a lot of mysticism borrowed from a dozen different spiritual movements, including Christianity, Rosicrucianism, and perhaps a smidge of white supremacy, The Order of the Solar Temple aspired to attain the ultimate spiritual nexus in the hopes of riding out a coming apocalypse, but as most movements of this type tend to do, it took around a decade before it all crumbled into a heap of crime, murder, and mass suicide that spanned across three countries.
Learn more about this still very mysterious cult, as well as how affluence-bred boredom can be particularly detrimental to societies at large.
Additional Info:
https://www.encyclopedia.com/science/encyclopedias-almanacs-transcripts-and-maps/di-mambro-joseph-1924-1994

https://www.ranker.com/list/order-of-the-solar-temple-cult/amandasedlakhevener

https://www.nytimes.com/1994/10/09/world/a-preacher-with-a-dark-side-led-cultists-to-swiss-chalets.html?pagewanted=all

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Order_of_the_Solar_Temple

Sponsor: Local Hero Press https://localheropress.com/

Show Credits:
Graphics -- Nathaniel Dickson: http://ndickson.com
Music -- Spencer Morelock, Ken Dickson
Ding Dong Darkness Time Media:
Twitter: @dddarknesstime
Instagram: dddarknesstime
Gmail: dddarknesstime@gmail.com

DDD13: Tunnels, Little Jokers, and... Cheese? Three Incredible Heists You Might Not Know About Nov 30, 2022

On this Ding Dong Ditch episode, Allison does short dives on three incredible heists that netted millions of dollars in stolen assets.
The robbery of the Central Bank of Forteleza Brazil in 2005 involved digging a 300 foot long tunnel from a front business into a bank vault holding the equivalent $70 million American dollars, in a case that spanned many years and left a lot of dead bodies even more questions in its wake.
Then we go back all the way to 1878 to the robbery of the Manhattan Savings Institution, with a cunning and surgical mastermind most of you have probably never heard of, but who was responsible for most of America's bank robberies over a 9 year period.
And finally, if you're going to do a large scale heist in Wisconsin, what better thing to steal than some wheels of cheese? We'll talk about all the ways it's a bad idea.
Additional Info:
The Central Bank Heist Wiki: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Banco_Central_burglary_at_Fortaleza

The Great Central Bank Heist of Brazil on Netflix:
https://about.netflix.com/en/news/the-documentary-3-tonusd-the-great-robbery-of-brazils-central-bank-is-now
The High Society Bank Robber of the 1800s (George Leslie)
https://www.thedailybeast.com/the-high-society-bank-robber-of-the-1800s
Book: King of Heists by J. North Conway
https://www.amazon.com/King-Heists-Sensational-Robbery-Shocked/dp/B007BWD3PE
Wisconsin Cheese Heists
https://www.vice.com/en/article/8qk84v/what-went-wrong-in-wisconsins-biggest-cheese-heist

Show Credits:
Graphics -- Nathaniel Dickson: http://ndickson.com
Music -- Spencer Morelock, Ken Dickson
Ding Dong Darkness Time Media:
Twitter: @dddarknesstime
Instagram: dddarknesstime
Gmail: dddarknesstime@gmail.com

The Prosecutors Podcast: Adolfo Constanzo and the Cult of Narcosatanism Nov 23, 2022

This special holiday week, let us all give thanks for the lovely Brett and Alice over on The Prosecutors, who had Allison on to talk about a particularly grisly cult that operated out of Mexico in the 1980s. Adolfo Constanzo and his followers perverted the religion of Palo Mayombe to aid in their drug dealing enterprise. Countless murders, including human sacrifice, abounded for years until they chose the wrong victim, an American college student on spring break.
Additional Info:
The Prosecutors Site: https://prosecutorspodcast.com/

Show Credits:
Graphics -- Nathaniel Dickson: http://ndickson.com
Music -- Spencer Morelock, Ken Dickson
Ding Dong Darkness Time Media:
Twitter: @dddarknesstime
Instagram: dddarknesstime
Gmail: dddarknesstime@gmail.com

16: Class of Cults -- The Long Tide of the Moonies aka The Unification Church Nov 16, 2022

If you think Reverend Sun Myoung Moon was merely interested in mass marriages in baseball stadiums, then buckle up, because there is a whole lot to learn about the vast empire built by the now late religious figure who used anti-communist sentiment and Christianity to begin a following in South Korea in the 1950s, and then gain far-reaching influence with conservative and far-right movements in the United States starting in the 1970s and lasting well up to today, including participation in the Capitol riot of January 6th, 2021 as well as the assassination of former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe in the summer of 2022.
This is a cult that has a firm monetary grip on media and governments across the world, and this episode only begins to scratch the surface.
Also, Allison answers a listener question on how she feels about the phrase "Drinking the Kool-Aid."
Additional Info:
Unification Church Wiki:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Unification_Church#Background_and_origins
Steven Hassan's BITE Model of Authoritarian Control:
https://freedomofmind.com/cult-mind-control/bite-model/

List of Organizations and Businesses Owned by or Affiliated with the Unification Church:
https://freedomofmind.com/exclusive-list-of-entities-closely-associated-with-sun-myung-moon/
SPLC Article on Rod of Iron Ministries (Moonie offshoot cult)
https://www.splcenter.org/hatewatch/2021/10/08/rod-iron-antigovernment-christian-right-and-far-right-movements-join-freedom-festival
Vice Documentary on Rod of Iron Freedom Festival:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n_JhtYm3-zY
How Reverend Moon Made Sushi Big in America:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7zhZnvvi_lA
Account of a Former Moonie:
https://www.insider.com/to-the-moon-and-back-lisa-kohn-what-its-like-to-be-former-moonie-2018-8

Show Credits:
Graphics -- Nathaniel Dickson: http://ndickson.com
Music -- Spencer Morelock, Ken Dickson
Ding Dong Darkness Time Media:
Twitter: @dddarknesstime
Instagram: dddarknesstime
Gmail: dddarknesstime@gmail.com

DDD12: Skulls, Cattle, and Lightning -- The Cults of the Neolithic Era Nov 09, 2022

Life was hard in early human history. And around 10,000 years ago during the Neolithic Period, when our interests turned to gathering in stationary settlements and manipulating the earth and animals in our favor, it became particularly challenging to hold it all together in the face of elemental forces we take for granted these days.
This was fertile ground for the growth of cults. In this short episodes, Allison discusses three of them today and in doing so hopefully demonstrates how straight line can still be drawn between the people of prehistoric times and the people of today.
Additional Info:
Skull Cult at Gobleki Tepi
https://www.vice.com/en/article/7xp55b/gobekli-tepe-skull-cult-ancient-ruins-temple-ritual
Neolithic Cattle Cult
https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/did-neolithic-cattle-cult-build-these-sprawling-structures-180977629/
Thunder and Lightning Gods
https://symbolsage.com/thunder-and-lightning-gods/

Show Credits:
Graphics -- Nathaniel Dickson: http://ndickson.com
Music -- Spencer Morelock, Ken Dickson
Ding Dong Darkness Time Media:
Twitter: @dddarknesstime
Instagram: dddarknesstime
Gmail: dddarknesstime@gmail.com

15: Class of Cults -- The Ultimate Cult Primer Episode Nov 01, 2022

If you're a psychology nerd or always wanted to be, the premier episode of Season 3: Class of Cults is all for you. Allison gathers with two of her dearest friends, Chris from 80s High, who also happens to have a psychology degree, and Dr. Bart Abplanalp, noted forensic psychologist, to discuss what cults are, what types of cults exist, and all the ways in which every one of us is vulnerable to a cultic mindset through the manipulation of emotions and language.
In order to illustrate this, we begin with a discussion on the Stanley Milgram Obedience Study and then venture on to Philip Zimbardo's Stanford Prison Experiment and its impacts on humanity's views of authority, before talking about cognitive dissonance, personality disorders, and a myriad of other ways groups of humans can assemble in dysfunctional and destructive ways.
Hopefully this will set a firm foundation for the upcoming season chock full of education on all the cults and organizations that behave suspiciously like them. Arm yourself with knowledge!
Additional Info:
Sponsor: Local Hero Press: https://localheropress.com
Book Sources
Cults Inside Out by Rick Alan Ross
https://www.amazon.com/Cults-Inside-Out-How-People-ebook/dp/B00OZR1QNO

Cultish: The Language of Fanaticism by Amanda Montell https://www.amazon.com/Cultish-Language-Fanaticism-Amanda-Montell/dp/0062993151
Chris's Podcast, 80s High: https://the80shigh.podbean.com/
Dr Bart's HORR-O Horror Movie Bingo Game: https://horr-o.com/
Dr Bart's YouTube Page, Ask Dr Bart: https://www.youtube.com/user/bartpsy/videos
Milgram Experiment Wiki: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Milgram_experiment
Stanford Prison Experiment Wiki: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stanford_prison_experiment

Show Credits:
Graphics -- Nathaniel Dickson: http://ndickson.com
Music -- Spencer Morelock, Ken Dickson
Ding Dong Darkness Time Media:
Twitter: @dddarknesstime
Instagram: dddarknesstime
Gmail: dddarknesstime@gmail.com

DDD11: Devil's Night and Other Halloween Hijinks Oct 26, 2022

Halloween is a time of great traditions. Most are wholesome, but some are destructive. The concept of Mischief Nights, usually preceding Halloween by a day or two, go back to the late 1700s in England, but they eventually popped up in the United States. And in Detroit in particular, things got particularly fiery for a number of years until the city banded together for the power of good.
In this short episode, Allison talks about the now thankfully defunct custom of Devil's Night in Detroit, as well as how such phenomena came to be associated with Halloween in the first place. It wasn't always this way.
Additionally, Allison wraps things up by talking about several other eerie or macabre historical events that have happened on or just before All Hallow's Eve.
Additional Info:
Devil's Night: https://www.crimemuseum.org/crime-library/organized-crime/devils-night/
Devil's Night Wiki: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Devil%27s_Night
Strange Events on Halloween: https://www.insider.com/strange-things-happened-on-halloween
Woman Finds S.O.S. from China in Halloween Decorations: https://nypost.com/2021/02/13/us-mom-found-sos-in-decorationsand-exposed-chinas-camps/

Show Credits:
Graphics -- Nathaniel Dickson: http://ndickson.com
Music -- Spencer Morelock, Ken Dickson
Ding Dong Darkness Time Media:
Twitter: @dddarknesstime
Instagram: dddarknesstime
Gmail: dddarknesstime@gmail.com

14: I See Dead People: Allison and Brett Talk Ghosts Oct 18, 2022

By popular demand, Ding Dong Darkness Time strays into the spiritual realm just in time for Halloween. Brett from The Prosecutors joins Allison to talk about his time as a paranormal researcher. Yes, that's right. Among being an amazing podcast host and hot shot lawyer guy, the man hunted ghosts, and he has brought with him some incredible insights into the search for the paranormal.
Not only that, but there are some listener submitted personal ghost stories and encounters with the strange and unusual. We also talk a bit about the existential pursuit of evidence of the afterlife, as well as cursed objects and a few of our favorite ghost movies!
There's a lot to see here. But what we really want you to do is press play and enjoy.
Additional Info:
The Prosecutors Podcast: https://prosecutorspodcast.com/
The Haunted Alabama Black Belt: https://www.amazon.com/Haunted-Alabama-Black-Belt-America/dp/1609499441
Haunted Tuscaloosa: https://www.amazon.com/Haunted-Tuscaloosa-America-David-Higdon-ebook/dp/B00XQZBLZ4

Show Credits:
Graphics -- Nathaniel Dickson: http://ndickson.com
Music -- Spencer Morelock, Ken Dickson
Ding Dong Darkness Time Media:
Twitter: @dddarknesstime
Instagram: dddarknesstime
Gmail: dddarknesstime@gmail.com

13: The Found Footage Horror Lovefest Oct 12, 2022

In the spirit of the Halloween season, Allison and Chris join forces to talk about their favorite subgenre of horror: found footage! And because they're a couple of oldsters, they wax about how awesome it was to experience the viral marketing campaign around The Blair Witch Project as it was coming out.
But that's far from all they cover here. The discussion dives into the origins of the genre, then onto so many of the movies it's spawned, but somehow they've only barely scratched the surface. Also tune in to see which found footage movie receives their crowning jewel.
Additional Info:
The 80s High Podcast https://the80shigh.podbean.com/

Show Credits:
Graphics -- Nathaniel Dickson: http://ndickson.com
Music -- Spencer Morelock, Ken Dickson
Ding Dong Darkness Time Media:
Twitter: @dddarknesstime
Instagram: dddarknesstime
Gmail: dddarknesstime@gmail.com

DDD10: Bloody Mary, Toilet Spirits, and Black Mirrors: Oh Scry! Oct 05, 2022

It's October, peak Ding Dong Darkness Month, and this episode gets things off with a roaring start by summoning Bloody Mary and what other toilet spirits might be lurking about. What's up with that bit of folklore anyway? Sprits in the bathroom? And can you really summon a scary woman by speaking her name 13 times into a mirror? Maybe! Get ready for more psychology geekery.
But more than that, for most of human history, we've stared into reflective surfaces for magical purposes. What's up with that? Does it even work?
Well... kind of!
Herein also lies a quick rundown of some choice bathroom ghosts from Japan, including Hanako-san, Aka Manto, and that feisty little toilet licking goblin, Akaname.
And what's up with bathrooms being the prime location for strange hauntings, anyway?
Am I morphing into Seinfeld? Only one way to find out...
Additional Info:
Buy Hillary Monahan's Bloody Mary Books:
https://www.amazon.com/Hillary-Monahan/e/B00JALZWQW/ref=dp_byline_cont_pop_book_1
Snopes on Bloody Mary Legend
https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/bloody-mary-story/
Scrying
http://www.fieldsofstudy.com/scrying
Japanese Bathroom Ghosts
https://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/japans-bathroom-ghosts

Show Credits:
Graphics -- Nathaniel Dickson: http://ndickson.com
Music -- Spencer Morelock, Ken Dickson
Ding Dong Darkness Time Media:
Twitter: @dddarknesstime
Instagram: dddarknesstime
Gmail: dddarknesstime@gmail.com

DDD9: The Sodder Family Mystery Sep 28, 2022

Twas the night before Christmas in 1945, and the Sodder family was settling in for the night at their Fayetteville, West Virginia home. However, in the wee hours of the night, a fire broke out, and five of the nine Sodder children were never accounted for after the blaze.
Over the decades, speculation raged as the family continued to believe that the children were taken, and there were plenty of suspicious events leading up to the fire that caused them to believe that way. After the fire, things only got weirder with the investigation, including sightings of the children and a mysterious photograph sent to the family more than twenty years later.
But what really happened to the missing Sodder kids? Allison does all her best to break it all down and comes up with a theory, but she realizes there are many who may not agree. This one is a bit of a head-scratcher, to say the least.
Additional Info:
Unresolved Mysteries Link on Reddit (Lots of links within)
https://www.reddit.com/r/UnresolvedMysteries/comments/cpvxde/the_sodder_children_new_leads/?utm_medium=android_app&utm_source=share
Stacy Horn's NPR Article
https://www.npr.org/2005/12/23/5067563/mystery-of-missing-children-haunts-w-va-town
Smithsonian Magazine Article:
https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/the-children-who-went-up-in-smoke-172429802/
Show Credits:
Graphics -- Nathaniel Dickson: http://ndickson.com
Intro and Background Music -- Spencer Morelock
Ding Dong Darkness Time Media:
Twitter: @dddarknesstime
Instagram: dddarknesstime
Gmail: dddarknesstime@gmail.com

Show Credits:
Graphics -- Nathaniel Dickson: http://ndickson.com
Music -- Spencer Morelock, Ken Dickson
Ding Dong Darkness Time Media:
Twitter: @dddarknesstime
Instagram: dddarknesstime
Gmail: dddarknesstime@gmail.com

DDD8: Royal Incest is Whack Sep 21, 2022

Queen Elizabeth II has died, so this seems a great time to talk about incest in royal bloodlines.
Focus is mainly on the Habsburg Dynasty of the 1600s, a family whose interbreeding was so severe, the most powerful monarchy since Charlemagne eventually extinguished itself. We're gonna talk a little about that infamous jaw too.
Also... was the incestuous bloodline of Queen Victoria ultimately responsible for the fall of the Romanov family in Russia? Give a listen and let me know what you think.
Finally, I wrap up with some American takes on the whole inbreeding thing, and the cultural differences between that and royalty. This all but guarantees I have to talk about the blue people of Kentucky.
So come on in and take a short ride on a few twisted bloodlines. This ain't an Olive Garden, but when you're here, you're family.
Additional Info:
That Habsburg Jaw:
https://allthatsinteresting.com/habsburg-jaw
King Charles II:
https://allthatsinteresting.com/charles-ii-of-spain
The Habsburg Family Tree:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FBOnjhEbqTM
The Blue Fugates of Kentucky
https://allthatsinteresting.com/fugate-family-blue-people-of-kentucky
The Whitaker Family
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nkGiFpJC9LM
Show Credits:
Show Credits:
Show Credits:
Graphics -- Nathaniel Dickson: http://ndickson.com
Intro Music -- Spencer Morelock
Background Music -- "Division" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Ding Dong Darkness Time Media:
Twitter: @dddarknesstime
Instagram: dddarknesstime
Gmail: dddarknesstime@gmail.com

Show Credits:
Graphics -- Nathaniel Dickson: http://ndickson.com
Music -- Spencer Morelock, Ken Dickson
Ding Dong Darkness Time Media:
Twitter: @dddarknesstime
Instagram: dddarknesstime
Gmail: dddarknesstime@gmail.com

DDD7: Humans Consuming Humans -- Mummy Edition Sep 12, 2022

Let's talk about cannibalism! Specifically medical cannibalism.
Humans have been using corpses medicinally for centuries. A little ground up skull for a headache. A sip of blood for the spirit. A slather of human fat for a wound. But around the 12th century, they went particularly nuts for Egyptian mummies, and for the next 500 years, it was available at any town apothecary.
Learn all about ground up mummies, whether unearthed from Egyptian tombs, or locally sourced from the neighborhood executioner and made in-house, and how people used them to treat various ailments, and even made paint pigment out of their ground-up remains.
And that's only a little of what's packed into this 20-something minutes. Come for the primer on curative cannibalism and cultural exploitation. Stay for the always timely reminder as to why incest is bad.
Additional Info:
Smithsonian Magazine Article on Corpse Medicine
https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/the-gruesome-history-of-eating-corpses-as-medicine-82360284/

Modern Antiquities Smuggling
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-10-21/egypts-3-billion-dollar-smuggling-problem/10388394

Peruvian Gang Harvesting Human Fat
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2009/nov/20/peru-gang-killing-human-fat

Mummy Brown Pigment Wiki
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mummy_brown

History of Consuming Human Remains
https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/mumia-the-strange-history-of-human-remains-as-medicine#A-controversial-practice

Mummia Wiki
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mummia

Mummy Craze of the Victorian Era
https://theconversation.com/why-did-people-start-eating-egyptian-mummies-the-weird-and-wild-ways-mummy-fever-swept-through-europe-177551
Show Credits:
Show Credits:
Graphics -- Nathaniel Dickson: http://ndickson.com
Intro Music -- Spencer Morelock
Background Music -- Ken Dickson: https://soundcloud.com/kenjamd

Ding Dong Darkness Time Media:
Twitter: @dddarknesstime
Instagram: dddarknesstime
Gmail: dddarknesstime@gmail.com

Show Credits:
Graphics -- Nathaniel Dickson: http://ndickson.com
Music -- Spencer Morelock, Ken Dickson
Ding Dong Darkness Time Media:
Twitter: @dddarknesstime
Instagram: dddarknesstime
Gmail: dddarknesstime@gmail.com

DDD6: Folie à Deux -- Three Cases of Shared Delusions Sep 05, 2022

There are countless examples in true crime of the psychiatric phenomenon Folie à Deux, also known as shared delusion or shared psychosis. In this short episode, Allison goes into three very distinct cases.

In 2016, an Australian family, the Tromps, took an extremely bizarre impromptu road trip that ended with all of them separated and in various states of mental agitation and catatonia.
In the late 1970s, two men were incarcerated together and spent all their spare time feeding a shared fantasy of raping young girls. Once paroled, they set about putting their plans to work. Only it soon escalated to murder. Eventually becoming known as the Toolbox Killers, Lawrence Bittaker and Roy Norris were eventually arrested, but not before raping, maiming, and killing upwards of a half dozen young women and girls.
Finally, learn about Mr and Mrs A, a couple who became entrapped in one of the partners' psychotic states, feeding a series of delusions that eventually led to the death of their infant son.
Additional Info:
Folie à Deux Wiki:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Folie_%C3%A0_deux
Excerpt on Folie à Deux re: Toolbox Killers:
https://books.google.com/books?id=uM5SDwAAQBAJ&pg=PA198&lpg=PA198&dq=lawrence+bittaker+and+roy+norris+folie+%C3%A0+deux&source=bl&ots=gKeolktW3s&sig=ACfU3U0NHI1d8VSCrUmTd3TCm9nDTGeEfQ&hl=en&ppis=_c&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjS68Xx_LDoAhVZCc0KHSjoARkQ6AEwAnoECAsQAQ#v=onepage&q=lawrence%20bittaker%20and%20roy%20norris%20folie%20%C3%A0%20deux&f=false
The Story of Mr and Mrs A:
https://ajp.psychiatryonline.org/doi/10.1176/appi.ajp.2013.13010027

The Mystery of the Tromp Family:
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-australia-37293494

https://www.mamamia.com.au/tromp-family/
Famous Folie à Deux Murder Cases:
https://www.aetv.com/real-crime/folie-a-deux-murders
Show Credits:
Graphics -- Nathaniel Dickson: http://ndickson.com
Intro Music -- Spencer Morelock
Background Music -- Ken Dickson: https://soundcloud.com/kenjamd

Ding Dong Darkness Time Media:
Twitter: @dddarknesstime
Instagram: dddarknesstime
Gmail: dddarknesstime@gmail.com

Show Credits:
Graphics -- Nathaniel Dickson: http://ndickson.com
Music -- Spencer Morelock, Ken Dickson
Ding Dong Darkness Time Media:
Twitter: @dddarknesstime
Instagram: dddarknesstime
Gmail: dddarknesstime@gmail.com

Ding Dong Darkness Time Trailer Aug 27, 2022

Show Credits:
Graphics -- Nathaniel Dickson: http://ndickson.com
Music -- Spencer Morelock, Ken Dickson
Ding Dong Darkness Time Media:
Twitter: @dddarknesstime
Instagram: dddarknesstime
Gmail: dddarknesstime@gmail.com

DDD5: Chemical Warfare and the Attack of the Dead Men Aug 27, 2022

All war is hell, but World War I was a rare breed of nightmarish, thanks in large part to the advances of the Industrial Revolution, and in particular, the advances in chemistry. In this short episode, Allison lays down a basic primer of the development of chlorine, phosgene, and other gases used on the battlefront, and then she tells a harrowing story of a Russian fortress to which the Germans laid siege with a balloon of chlorine destruction. What happened next is like something out of a George Romero flick.
But the man who created these weapons, Fritz Haber, revolutionized the world in other key ways. So stick around and learn a little about that too!
Additional Info:
Attack of the Dead Men Wiki: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Attack_of_the_Dead_Men
Technology of WWI: https://airandspace.si.edu/stories/editorial/240-artist-soldiers-technology
Gas in the Great War: https://www.kumc.edu/school-of-medicine/academics/departments/history-and-philosophy-of-medicine/archives/wwi/essays/medicine/gas-in-the-great-war
Show Credits:
Graphics -- Nathaniel Dickson: http://ndickson.com
Intro Music -- Spencer Morelock
Background Music -- Ken Dickson
Ding Dong Darkness Time Media:
Twitter: @dddarknesstime
Instagram: dddarknesstime
Gmail: dddarknesstime@gmail.com

Show Credits:
Graphics -- Nathaniel Dickson: http://ndickson.com
Music -- Spencer Morelock, Ken Dickson
Ding Dong Darkness Time Media:
Twitter: @dddarknesstime
Instagram: dddarknesstime
Gmail: dddarknesstime@gmail.com

DDD4: Cryonics and Frozen Dead Guy Days Aug 17, 2022

A Norwegian man died in 1989 and his grandson had his cryogenically frozen corpse placed into a shed up in Nederland, Colorado. Hijinks ensued, and today an annual festival called Frozen Dead Guy Days is held to celebrate Grandpa Bredo. Learn about this odd American legend and more about the legitimacy (or lack thereof) of human cryonics. There's also a brief dovetail into death aversion. Will we ever be able to successfully resurrect a frozen corpse? Do we want to? Or would it be better to simply upload our consciousness into a simulation?
OR HAVE WE ALREADY?
Allison covers as many bases as possible in this short episode, but leaves plenty of room for future episodes!
Additional Info:
Cryonics Wiki: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cryonics
Frozen Dead Guy Days: https://frozendeadguydays.com
Legends of America Frozen Dead Guy Days article: https://www.legendsofamerica.com/co-frozendeadguy/
Crestone End of Life Project: https://informedfinalchoices.org/crestone/about-ceolp/ceolp-history/
Nectome brain and memory preservation website: https://nectome.com/https://nectome.com/
Show Credits:
Graphics -- Nathaniel Dickson: http://ndickson.com
Intro Music -- Spencer Morelock
Background Music -- Ken Dickson
Ding Dong Darkness Time Media:
Twitter: @dddarknesstime
Instagram: dddarknesstime
Gmail: dddarknesstime@gmail.com

Show Credits:
Graphics -- Nathaniel Dickson: http://ndickson.com
Music -- Spencer Morelock, Ken Dickson
Ding Dong Darkness Time Media:
Twitter: @dddarknesstime
Instagram: dddarknesstime
Gmail: dddarknesstime@gmail.com

DDD3: Light as a Feather, Stiff as a Board Aug 12, 2022

Ah, Light as a Feather. That childhood slumber party staple that some would swear has some kind of actual sorcery involved. But what are its origins? Can it open a door to the spirit world? Is it even actually possible to lift a whole person with only a couple of your fingers? This short episode goes into it all. Allison even takes a moment to talk about what creepy little weirdos kids are in general, as well as how human memory works (and doesn't). You'll even get instructions on how to play a game that will apparently allow a spirit to stalk you for a few hours. Have fun!
Additional Info:
Light as a Feather Wiki: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Light_as_a_feather,_stiff_as_a_board
How to play Light as a Feather: https://www.wikihow.com/Play-Light-as-a-Feather
How to play MASH: https://www.wikihow.com/Play-M.A.S.H
How to play The Midnight Game https://theghostinmymachine.com/2014/03/31/the-most-dangerous-games-the-midnight-game/
Show Credits:
Graphics -- Nathaniel Dickson: http://ndickson.com
Intro Music -- Spencer Morelock
Background Music -- Ken Dickson
Ding Dong Darkness Time Media:
Twitter: @dddarknesstime
Instagram: dddarknesstime
Gmail: dddarknesstime@gmail.com

Show Credits:
Graphics -- Nathaniel Dickson: http://ndickson.com
Music -- Spencer Morelock, Ken Dickson
Ding Dong Darkness Time Media:
Twitter: @dddarknesstime
Instagram: dddarknesstime
Gmail: dddarknesstime@gmail.com

DDD2: Rage Against the Karaoke Machine and the My Way Killings Aug 05, 2022

Karaoke is a harmless enough pastime, but sometimes it can get you killed. This is especially true if you try to sing Frank Sinatra's classic tune "My Way" in the Philippines, where upwards of a dozen deaths can be attributed to people singing this song in one of the country's ubiquitous karaoke establishments. But in this episode of Ding Dong Ditch, Allison goes into even more incidents of karaoke rage and what combination of factors could inspire spectators or sometimes even the singers themselves, to get violent.
Additional Info:
Sinatra Tune Strikes Deadly Chord: https://www.nytimes.com/2010/02/07/world/asia/07karaoke.html
Karaoke Turned Deadly Pastime
https://www.avclub.com/karaoke-turned-deadly-in-the-my-way-killings-1845312562
My Way Killings Wiki
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/My_Way_killings
Wojtek the Polish Soldier Bear
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wojtek_(bear)
Show Credits:
Graphics -- Nathaniel Dickson: http://ndickson.com
Intro Music -- Spencer Morelock
Background Music -- Ken Dickson
Ding Dong Darkness Time Media:
Twitter: @dddarknesstime
Instagram: dddarknesstime
Gmail: dddarknesstime@gmail.com

Show Credits:
Graphics -- Nathaniel Dickson: http://ndickson.com
Music -- Spencer Morelock, Ken Dickson
Ding Dong Darkness Time Media:
Twitter: @dddarknesstime
Instagram: dddarknesstime
Gmail: dddarknesstime@gmail.com

DDD1: Axis and Allies and Meth Aug 02, 2022

In 1944, a Finnish ski patrol soldier named Aimo Koivunen outran a Soviet platoon after this unit was besieged in the Laplands. It was a testament of extreme human will and endurance, and it wouldn't have been possible without... methamphetamine.
Yes, you read that right. Listen on to learn more about Aimo's harrowing journey, and how meth and other amphetamines have played a vital role in militaries and wars across the globe.
This is the first episode of the show-within-the-show, and we hope you enjoy these strange and/or interesting tales as they upload weekly, both between and during regular seasons of Ding Dong Darkness Time!
Additional Info:
The Crazy Crystal Meth Adventure of a Finnish Soldier: https://medium.com/exploring-history/the-crazy-crystal-meth-adventure-of-a-finnish-soldier-1cae54a1238f
Show Credits:
Graphics -- Nathaniel Dickson: http://ndickson.com
Intro Music -- Spencer Morelock
Background Music -- Ken Dickson
Ding Dong Darkness Time Media:
Twitter: @dddarknesstime
Instagram: dddarknesstime
Gmail: dddarknesstime@gmail.com

Show Credits:
Graphics -- Nathaniel Dickson: http://ndickson.com
Music -- Spencer Morelock, Ken Dickson
Ding Dong Darkness Time Media:
Twitter: @dddarknesstime
Instagram: dddarknesstime
Gmail: dddarknesstime@gmail.com

12: The Man in the Black Suit Goes to Room 1408 Jul 27, 2022

Everything's Eventual, y'all. Including the ultimate ending of our Stephen King Boogaloo! But Allison and Chris want to go out on a haunting note, so they decided to pluck their two favorite stories from King's celebrated short story collection, Everything's Eventual. While the entire catalog is worth celebrating, these are two key stories that we think go very well together, especially as they were both mentioned in King's fantastic non-fiction book, On Writing.
In The Man in the Black Suit, King flexes his literary fiction muscles to the tune of winning an O. Henry Award and other major accolades in a story about a young boy who goes to the river to do a little fishing and ends up meeting the devil.
And in 1408, the ultimate haunted hotel story, a man's skepticism about ghosties and ghoulies is put to the ultimate test with a bad acid trip/fever dream experience that has lived rent-free in our heads ever since we read it. The movie starring John Cusack and Samuel L. Jackson is also well worth a watch. We give you the scoop on a lot of the interesting trivia you might have missed.
Additional Info:
80s High Podcast: https://the80shigh.podbean.com/
Credits:
Show Art -- Nathaniel Dickson http://ndickson.com
Music -- Spencer Morelock
Ding Dong Darkness Time Media:
Twitter: @dddarknesstime
Instagram: dddarknesstime
Gmail: dddarknesstime@gmail.com

Show Credits:
Graphics -- Nathaniel Dickson: http://ndickson.com
Music -- Spencer Morelock, Ken Dickson
Ding Dong Darkness Time Media:
Twitter: @dddarknesstime
Instagram: dddarknesstime
Gmail: dddarknesstime@gmail.com

80s High: Taking Pennywise to School Jul 18, 2022

Back in October of 2021, before the dawn of the Darkness Time, Allison visited the 80s High podcast to talk with Ben and Chris about Stephen King's mega-monster of a tome, IT. We also dove into the movie franchises, the origins of clowns-as-horror-tropes, HP Lovecraft, and so much more.
This is not only a great opportunity to stuff your head full of knowledge on one of Stephen King's most famous works, but especially to get to know one of the best podcasts out there. We promise there won't be a pop quiz, but it never hurts to study!
Additional Info:
80s High Podcast: https://the80shigh.podbean.com/
Credits:
Show Art -- Nathaniel Dickson http://ndickson.com
Music -- Spencer Morelock
Ding Dong Darkness Time Media:
Twitter: @dddarknesstime
Instagram: dddarknesstime
Gmail: dddarknesstime@gmail.com

Show Credits:
Graphics -- Nathaniel Dickson: http://ndickson.com
Music -- Spencer Morelock, Ken Dickson
Ding Dong Darkness Time Media:
Twitter: @dddarknesstime
Instagram: dddarknesstime
Gmail: dddarknesstime@gmail.com

S2E11: Trucks and Maximum Overdrive -- WE. MADE. YOU. Jul 10, 2022

It's the finale of Season 2: Stephen King Boogaloo! Chris and Allison have packed this thing to the gills doing a full exploration of the piece of storytelling that made Stephen King a triple threat: Author, Screenwriter, Feature Film Director.
We begin with King's short story, Trucks. Featured in the collection Night Shift, it's a chilling vignette of big rigs turned autonomous and bloodthirsty. We then venture into King's directorial debut with the 1986 exercise in campy , schlocky fun, Maximum Overdrive. Rumor has it King was coked out of his mind, and many don't exactly remember this movie as particularly great. However, even as we recognize some of the movie's faults, we're swinging as heavyweights in favor of it.
The genuine craft of this movie really comes into focus when we take a short side trip into the USA Network adaptation from 1997, also named Trucks. Watch this and then dare to tell us Maximum Overdrive doesn't deliver the entertaining goods.
In King's movie, we have big trucks, explosions, the Green Goblin, and AC/Freakin/DC!
By the time you get to the end of this episode, you should be able to sufficiently answer the question, Who Made Who?
Additional Info:
Chris's Podcast, 80s High: https://the80shigh.podbean.com/
Maximum Overdrive Wiki: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maximum_Overdrive
Trucks (USA Network, Full Movie) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cPEfEkVkrLc
Show Credits:
Artwork: Nathaniel Dickson http://ndickson.com
Music: Spencer Morelock
Ding Dong Darkness Time Media:
Twitter: @dddarknesstime
Instagram: dddarknesstime
Gmail: dddarknesstime@gmail.com

Show Credits:
Graphics -- Nathaniel Dickson: http://ndickson.com
Music -- Spencer Morelock, Ken Dickson
Ding Dong Darkness Time Media:
Twitter: @dddarknesstime
Instagram: dddarknesstime
Gmail: dddarknesstime@gmail.com

S2E10: Hearts in Atlantis -- The Sixties Never Really Left Jul 05, 2022

This week, Allison is joined by author and poet Jaclyn Youhana Garver to discuss one of Stephen King's most under-read books, Hearts in Atlantis. This mosaic of five stories circles around a cast of characters who grew up in the incredibly tumultuous 1960s, and either went off to Vietnam, or joined the protests against it as young adults. The most well-known story from this collection, Low Men in Yellow Coats, was adapted to the big screen in 2005, starring Anthony Hopkins.
With elements of the mundane supernatural thrown into the mix, as well as a potent shot of bitter nostalgia, King's lens on his generation and its effects on the world throughout the decades clear through to today is a fascinating, bold, and heart-rending read. And as many of his works tend to be, it remains incredibly relevant as we face many of the similar challenges. When do we follow along with the status quo? When do we resist? What are the consequences, both inwardly and outwardly, for making those choices?
Also, there's something here for the Dark Tower fans out there...
Additional Information:
Follow Jaclyn on Twitter: @JYoGarver
(Jaclyn's New Website Coming Soon!)
Hearts in Atlantis Wiki: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hearts_in_Atlantis
Credits:
Show Art -- Nathaniel Dickson http://ndickson.com
Music -- Spencer Morelock
Ding Dong Darkness Time Media:
Twitter: @dddarknesstime
Instagram: dddarknesstime
Gmail: dddarknesstime@gmail.com

Show Credits:
Graphics -- Nathaniel Dickson: http://ndickson.com
Music -- Spencer Morelock, Ken Dickson
Ding Dong Darkness Time Media:
Twitter: @dddarknesstime
Instagram: dddarknesstime
Gmail: dddarknesstime@gmail.com

S2E9: The Stand -- Reading and Writing About A Pandemic During One Jun 26, 2022

This week Allison sits down with post-apocalyptic fiction author David Kazzie to discuss what is largely considered Stephen King's most epic and consequential work, The Stand. Apart from talking about the story's origins, we consider how it holds up in the current era. What's it like lining up a fictional pandemic against a real one? How does King manage to make such a story originally crafted in 1978 (and revised and expanded in 1990) feel so relatable to the tumultuous events of today?
Additional Info:
David Kazzie's Website: https://davidkazzie.com/
David Kazzie on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/davidkazzieauthor/
The Stand Wiki: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Stand
Credits:
Show Art -- Nathaniel Dickson http://ndickson.com
Music -- Spencer Morelock
Ding Dong Darkness Time Media:
Twitter: @dddarknesstime
Instagram: dddarknesstime
Gmail: dddarknesstime@gmail.com

Show Credits:
Graphics -- Nathaniel Dickson: http://ndickson.com
Music -- Spencer Morelock, Ken Dickson
Ding Dong Darkness Time Media:
Twitter: @dddarknesstime
Instagram: dddarknesstime
Gmail: dddarknesstime@gmail.com

S2E8: The Shawshank Redemption -- This is a Global Tel Link Prepaid Call From...Andy Dufresne Jun 17, 2022

This week's Stephen King discussion intersects with our love of true crime. And because our special guest, Kate Jenkins, happens to be a lawyer, we wasted no opportunity to discuss one of our favorite novellas and movies in the realm of an actual murder case. Would Andy Dufresne have actually been convicted of the double murder that sent him to Shawshank State Prison? Could he have ever had his conviction overturned on appeal?
Not only that, but we also use this amazing novella and film to discuss how it forces us to reflect on aspects of criminal justice, prisoner rehabilitation and institutionalization, compassion, and what it says about the Judeo-Christian values that shape our society.
Okay, also we pick which of our celebrity crushes would be on the poster that covers the tunnel we'd be digging out of our prison cells. Really, we run the full gamut here.
Additional Information:
Chris's Podcast, 80s High: https://the80shigh.podbean.com/
Ear Hustle Podcast -- Stories of prison life: https://www.earhustlesq.com/
Shawshank Redemption Movie Wiki: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Shawshank_Redemption
Rita Hayworth and Shawshank Redemption Novella Wiki: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rita_Hayworth_and_Shawshank_Redemption
Show Credits:
Artwork: Nathaniel Dickson http://ndickson.com
Music: Spencer Morelock

Show Credits:
Graphics -- Nathaniel Dickson: http://ndickson.com
Music -- Spencer Morelock, Ken Dickson
Ding Dong Darkness Time Media:
Twitter: @dddarknesstime
Instagram: dddarknesstime
Gmail: dddarknesstime@gmail.com

S2E7: Stand By Me Part 2 -- Big Goocher Energy Jun 14, 2022

In the second part of our episode on The Body and Stand By Me, Allison, Chris, and Kate dive to the depths of the emotional core of this tale and all its characters, as well as rehash some of its best moments and how they resonated with us on a personal level.
How did Rob Reiner get such great performances out of his young actors? How can it be that a parent who completely ignores you is almost worse than one who hits you? What is Emotional Carbonation? Wait... Kiefer Sutherland is how tall?
All those answers and more await you in this episode!
Additional Info:
Chris's Podcast, 80s High: https://the80shigh.podbean.com/
Stand by Me IMDB: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0092005/
Different Seasons Wiki: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Different_Seasons
Credits:
Show Art: Nathaniel Dickson http://ndickson.com
Show Music: Spencer Morelock

Show Credits:
Graphics -- Nathaniel Dickson: http://ndickson.com
Music -- Spencer Morelock, Ken Dickson
Ding Dong Darkness Time Media:
Twitter: @dddarknesstime
Instagram: dddarknesstime
Gmail: dddarknesstime@gmail.com

S2E6: Stand By Me Part 1 -- I Brought the Comb! Jun 13, 2022

This week, Allison, Chris, and special guest Kate Jenkins set out on a journey to explore Stephen King's best known coming of age tale, The Body, as well as the Rob Reiner film adaptation, Stand By Me.
Although it's set in 1959 rural Maine, a very different world from today, this story seems to resonate through the ages, and we're here to pick apart all the reasons why. This is part one of a two part discussion, so be sure to come back for the conclusion!
“I never had any friends later on like the ones I had when I was twelve. Jesus, does anyone?”
Additional Info:
Chris's Podcast, 80s High: https://the80shigh.podbean.com/
Stand by Me IMDB: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0092005/
Different Seasons Wiki: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Different_Seasons
Credits:
Show Art: Nathaniel Dickson http://ndickson.com
Show Music: Spencer Morelock

Show Credits:
Graphics -- Nathaniel Dickson: http://ndickson.com
Music -- Spencer Morelock, Ken Dickson
Ding Dong Darkness Time Media:
Twitter: @dddarknesstime
Instagram: dddarknesstime
Gmail: dddarknesstime@gmail.com

12: Pet Sematary Part 2 -- Sometimes Dead is Better Jun 07, 2022

Picking right back up where we left off in Part 1 (please listen to that one first if you haven't!), Allison and James D.F. Hannah delve into the darkest and most horrific parts of Stephen King's novel, Pet Sematary. And then things lighten up a tad when they discuss Mary Lambert's 1989 film adaptation, which gets about as much wrong as it does right. We're not saying James has it out for Dale Midkiff, but we're also not NOT saying it...
James DF Hannah on Amazon -- https://www.amazon.com/James-D.F.-Hannah/e/B01A9QHA84%3Fref=dbs_a_mng_rwt_scns_share
Pet Sematary Wiki -- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pet_Sematary
The Monkey's Paw -- https://americanliterature.com/author/w-w-jacobs/short-story/the-monkeys-paw
Credits:
Show Graphics -- Nathaniel Dickson http://ndickson.com
Show Music -- Spencer Morelock

Show Credits:
Graphics -- Nathaniel Dickson: http://ndickson.com
Music -- Spencer Morelock, Ken Dickson
Ding Dong Darkness Time Media:
Twitter: @dddarknesstime
Instagram: dddarknesstime
Gmail: dddarknesstime@gmail.com

11: Pet Sematary Part 1 -- The Soil of a Man's Heart is Stonier Jun 06, 2022

This week, crime author James D.F. Hannah comes on to discuss Stephen King's most terrifying novel, Pet Sematary, a book that King himself thinks was too dark, even for him.
We introduce the Creed family, and their friendly neighbors across the very dangerous road, and we discuss King's overall meditation on family, secrets, death, and grief. And much like the book itself, we dose you with a small spoonful of the unimaginable darkness to come in the second half. But nothing will compare to the full journey to the end of this harrowing beast of a tale.
Part 2 will be up very soon after, so you won't have to wait too long!
Additional Info:
James DF Hannah on Amazon -- https://www.amazon.com/James-D.F.-Hannah/e/B01A9QHA84%3Fref=dbs_a_mng_rwt_scns_share
Pet Sematary Wiki -- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pet_Sematary
The Monkey's Paw -- https://americanliterature.com/author/w-w-jacobs/short-story/the-monkeys-paw
Credits:
Show Graphics -- Nathaniel Dickson http://ndickson.com
Show Music -- Spencer Morelock

Show Credits:
Graphics -- Nathaniel Dickson: http://ndickson.com
Music -- Spencer Morelock, Ken Dickson
Ding Dong Darkness Time Media:
Twitter: @dddarknesstime
Instagram: dddarknesstime
Gmail: dddarknesstime@gmail.com

10: Working the Night Shift May 30, 2022

Join Allison and her special guest, author and teacher Terri Lynn Coop, as they dissect pretty much every single story in Stephen King's legendary debut collection of short stories, Night Shift. Highlights are Children of the Corn, The Ledge, Battleground, The Mangler, Quitters Inc, and so much more. Terri also gives her insights as a teacher offering up some of these works to her high school English students, and we also take a little time to nerd out over other amazing short fiction and general writer geek stuff.
Additional Info:
Terri Lynn Coop's Books and Stories
Terri Lynn Coop's Stories on Shotgun Honey
Stephen King's Night Shift Wiki
Credits:
Show Graphics -- Nathaniel Dickson
Show Music -- Spencer Morelock
Socials:
Ding Dong Darkness Time on Twitter: @DDDarknessTime
Ding Dong Darkness Time on Instagram: DDDarknessTime
Allison's Website: http://allisonmdickson.com

Show Credits:
Graphics -- Nathaniel Dickson: http://ndickson.com
Music -- Spencer Morelock, Ken Dickson
Ding Dong Darkness Time Media:
Twitter: @dddarknesstime
Instagram: dddarknesstime
Gmail: dddarknesstime@gmail.com

9: The Mist and Other Cosmic Horrors May 23, 2022

Our journey into the heart of Stephen King's darkness takes a distinct Lovecraftian turn. And joining us for the discussion this week is the always splendid Brett from the hit true crime podcast, The Prosecutors! Brett has always been a big fan of horror, particularly the cosmic variety, and we are so thrilled he joined us to give his very astute viewpoints on one of King's most horrifying novellas, The Mist!
But the discussion includes so much more. If it's even tangentially horror, we pretty much went there. Allison, Chris, and Brett also come at Frank Darabont's 2007 movie adaptation from three distinct points of view. Which one loved it unconditionally? Dive in and find out!
Additional Info:
The Prosecutors Podcast: https://prosecutorspodcast.com/
80s High Podcast: https://the80shigh.podbean.com/
The Mist Wiki: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Mist_(novella)
Credits:
Graphics: Nathaniel Dickson
https://ndickson.com/
Music: Spencer Morelock

Show Credits:
Graphics -- Nathaniel Dickson: http://ndickson.com
Music -- Spencer Morelock, Ken Dickson
Ding Dong Darkness Time Media:
Twitter: @dddarknesstime
Instagram: dddarknesstime
Gmail: dddarknesstime@gmail.com

8: Leave Annie Wilkes Alone! May 16, 2022

Welcome to the premier of Season 2! We're devoting this entire season to the works of Stephen King, and right out of the gate, we have Allison and Chris, joined by Josh and Kelly from Press Play and Scream, to discuss the story that made them number one fans. What makes this claustrophobic tale so special? What does it say about the possibly redemptive power of art? Is this the origin story of toxic fandoms? Let the book club commence!
Listen to the Press Play and Scream Podcast: https://pressplayandscream.buzzsprout.com/
Listen to the 80s High Podcast: https://the80shigh.podbean.com/
Follow Press Play and Scream: https://twitter.com/PressPlayScream
Follow 80s High: https://www.instagram.com/80shighpodcast
Purchase Misery: https://www.amazon.com/Misery-Stephen-King-ebook/dp/B018ER7K76
Follow Stephen King: https://twitter.com/StephenKing
Additional Credits:
Show Artwork -- Nathaniel Dickson
https://ndickson.com/
Show Music -- Spencer Morelock

Show Credits:
Graphics -- Nathaniel Dickson: http://ndickson.com
Music -- Spencer Morelock, Ken Dickson
Ding Dong Darkness Time Media:
Twitter: @dddarknesstime
Instagram: dddarknesstime
Gmail: dddarknesstime@gmail.com

7: Ashmore Estates (aka Allison & Chris Go Trespassing) Apr 13, 2022

In this bonus episode that was originally intended to be part of Haunting Architecture, Allison and Chris talk about their adventure in the sweltering summer of 2006, when they visited the once abandoned mental health facility known as Ashmore Estates in central Illinois. Nowadays, it is very much not abandoned and serves as a beacon for budding paranormal researchers, but on the day they explored the place, it was little more than a debris-filled husk of its former self. In other words, they got in there before it was cool!
Listen and learn more about their crazy little adventure as well as the background of this interesting site, and why you should carve out little moments of exploration magic for yourself. Albeit, more safe and legal ones if possible!
Credits:
Graphics -- Nathaniel Dickson
Music -- Spencer Morelock
Additional Info:
Ashmore Estates Wiki
Haunting History: Ashmore Estates (Video)

Show Credits:
Graphics -- Nathaniel Dickson: http://ndickson.com
Music -- Spencer Morelock, Ken Dickson
Ding Dong Darkness Time Media:
Twitter: @dddarknesstime
Instagram: dddarknesstime
Gmail: dddarknesstime@gmail.com

6: Dancing Plagues and Other Shared Madness Apr 06, 2022

This week, Allison and Chris dig deep into their own shared love and education in psychology to talk about the Dancing Plague of 1518, one of many such mass hysteria events that occurred during medieval Europe. In doing so, they also relate those events to the current day, where humanity remains no stranger to psychogenic illnesses. Why did so many people choose to dance themselves to death? Was it ergot, ego, or FOMO?
This is the season finale of the show, and we hope you'll be back for season 2, coming very soon!
Credits:
Graphics -- Nathaniel Dickson
Music -- Spencer Morelock
Additional Info:
The Dancing Plague of 1518 Wiki
The Great Mortality by John Kelly
A List of Other Mass Hysteria Events

Show Credits:
Graphics -- Nathaniel Dickson: http://ndickson.com
Music -- Spencer Morelock, Ken Dickson
Ding Dong Darkness Time Media:
Twitter: @dddarknesstime
Instagram: dddarknesstime
Gmail: dddarknesstime@gmail.com

5: The Twilight Zone Movie Incident (aka Eff John Landis) Apr 02, 2022

We're joined on this episode by two of the coolest cats in the movie podcasting realm, Joshua and Kelly from Press Play and Scream, to dissect and discuss not only the Twilight Zone movie, but the tragic on-set disaster that killed one of the film's stars along with two young children. Additionally, we walk the odd, visceral, and sometimes cringey landscape of each of the film's segments, as well as talk a little about our experience with anthology TV, of which The Twilight Zone is the granddaddy of them all.
Additional Information:
Press Play and Scream Podcast
The Twilight Zone Incident Wiki
Outrageous Conduct book

Show Credits:
Graphics -- Nathaniel Dickson: http://ndickson.com
Music -- Spencer Morelock, Ken Dickson
Ding Dong Darkness Time Media:
Twitter: @dddarknesstime
Instagram: dddarknesstime
Gmail: dddarknesstime@gmail.com

4: Very Strange Paintings Mar 29, 2022

Bust out the oils, canvases, doilies, existential dread, and brawling swords, because it's time to talk about dark paintings and painters!
First, Allison breaks apart all the details and subtext in Jan Van Eyck's haunting Arnolfini Portrait. Then Chris dives into the story surrounding one of the most famous scary paintings of all time, Edvard Munch's The Scream.
Then they converge on a shared discussion on the shocking works and violent life of Italian baroque painter Caravaggio, whose works include many bloody scenes and beheadings.
Credits:
Graphics -- Nathaniel Dickson
Music -- Spencer Morelock
Additional Information:
Caravaggio: The Only Great Artist to Commit Murder
The Arnolfini Portrait -- Great Art Explained
Edvard Munch

Show Credits:
Graphics -- Nathaniel Dickson: http://ndickson.com
Music -- Spencer Morelock, Ken Dickson
Ding Dong Darkness Time Media:
Twitter: @dddarknesstime
Instagram: dddarknesstime
Gmail: dddarknesstime@gmail.com

3: Haunting Architecture Mar 28, 2022

Allison and Chris take an expansive journey to some of the human built structures that have haunted their minds.
Beginning in California with the Winchester Mystery House, learn the story of Sarah Winchester, who inherited a large chunk of the Winchester Repeating Arms Company after the death of her husband, and used that fortune to build a sprawling, surreal mansion whose mystifying (and some say mystical) construction continued unabated for nearly forty years.
From there, we jump to the other side of the globe to Pyongyang, North Korea, to visit the strange towering edifice, the Ryugyong Hotel. Built in the 1980s to attract travelers from around the world, the project quickly fell apart around the same time as the Soviet Union and became instead a beacon of propaganda that continues to this day.
Then it's back to the States for a tour of the infamous Dakota Building in Manhattan, site of the murder of John Lennon as well as a potential nexus for all sorts of cursed events for the elites that have passed through its Gothic doors.
We then wrap up this rollercoaster ride with an actual roller coaster, the Crystal Beach Cyclone, which promised its riders a thrill unlike any they'd experienced before, and then delivered in the form of vomit, fainting, and in a couple instances -- death.
Additionally, we establish a whole new unit of measurement: The Olive Garden (not a sponsor).
Credits:
Graphics -- Nathaniel Dickson
Music -- Spencer Morelock
Winchester Mystery House
Ryugyong Hotel
Dakota Building
Crystal Beach Cyclone

Show Credits:
Graphics -- Nathaniel Dickson: http://ndickson.com
Music -- Spencer Morelock, Ken Dickson
Ding Dong Darkness Time Media:
Twitter: @dddarknesstime
Instagram: dddarknesstime
Gmail: dddarknesstime@gmail.com

2: Blucifer and the Denver International Airport Mar 28, 2022

Bathed in searing cobalt blue paint and gazing at the world through glaring red eyes, the 30-foot tall horse statue known as Mustang (or Blucifer to the locals) has welcomed travelers to the American West via the Denver International airport for more than a decade. But there is a lot more to the story of this horse than its striking looks. It comes with a melancholy and deadly history all its own, which Allison and Chris discuss in depth.
Not to be outdone, however, the Denver Airport itself is a conspiracy magnet and comes packed with all sorts of strange artwork that many believe to contain code about the New World Order.
Credits:
Graphics -- Nathaniel Dickson
Music -- Spencer Morelock
Additional Info:
The Blue Mustang Statue
Wonderland of the Weird Video on Mustang
The Chatty Gargoyle

Show Credits:
Graphics -- Nathaniel Dickson: http://ndickson.com
Music -- Spencer Morelock, Ken Dickson
Ding Dong Darkness Time Media:
Twitter: @dddarknesstime
Instagram: dddarknesstime
Gmail: dddarknesstime@gmail.com

1: The Devil's Interval Mar 28, 2022

For the first episode of our season on the dark arts (no Harry Potter), join Allison and Chris as they literally and figuratively set the tone for this show and discuss the Devil's Interval, also known as the tritone. This discordant series of notes features heavily in music throughout the centuries, and has carried with it the reputation of being banned by the Catholic church during the medieval period for its ability to inspire lasciviousness, perniciousness, and possibly even summon Lucifer himself.
And as a couple of middle-aged folks are wont to do, they spend a little time reminiscing about ska and Gregorian chants.
Credits:
Graphics -- Nathaniel Dickson
Music -- Spencer Morelock
Additional Info:
Adam Neely's Video on The Devil's Interval

Show Credits:
Graphics -- Nathaniel Dickson: http://ndickson.com
Music -- Spencer Morelock, Ken Dickson
Ding Dong Darkness Time Media:
Twitter: @dddarknesstime
Instagram: dddarknesstime
Gmail: dddarknesstime@gmail.com

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